Selective Latent Image Manipulation Techniques

[davidkachel]

Here's a new free paper for everyone still using B&W film, B&W paper, high contrast B&W film, X-ray film, C-41 color negative film and CP2 and RA4 color printing paper. This is a new description and set of instructions for a group of techniques I invented back in the late 1980's called, Selective Latent Image Manipulation Techniques.
SLIMTs. They are fast, very simple, foolproof and better than anything else ever invented for reducing contrast in analog photographic materials. This paper is a complete description and Freestyle now carries prepared kits so you don't have to mix your own dry chemicals from bulk. (I get nothing from Freestyle.)
If you are not using SLIMTs, you ought to be.

Please Feel free to pass this around and post it anywhere, as long as it is not altered. This is a serious update to the first announcement of SLIMTs I made in Darkroom & Creative Camera Techniques magazine in 1990.
dk

 

[Louis Nargi]

Interesting there a lot going on here I'll look at this in more detail later.

 

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

Very well written paper. Really liked reading it. Application to C41 film for contrast increase is very interesting. Wouldn't there be colour cross-overs during the repeated application of bleach and development? Also isn't a re-exposure step not needed between the bleach and develop steps?

 

[NedL]

Very interesting, thank you.
If I try this weak pot ferri step for reducing contrast in paper negatives, I think I'll introduce a good wash before development because I use replenished print developer.
A very interesting idea to work on the latent image.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I've been using SLIMTs for many years David thanks to your earlier writings. I use it for black and white paper in the darkroom. Works great when it is needed...