SpotPen Kit

Rhodes · Aug 11, 2014

Any one use or experimented with SpotPen kit? Saw it on http://www.thephotoshop.ie/ and thought that coud be a nice kit to have.

paul_c5x4 · Aug 11, 2014

I have a set sitting on the shelf - I have used them on a couple of occasions, but found it difficult to "do" the small specs of dust. The tip is not particularly fine and the colours do not suit toned prints at all well.

I have since picked up an assortment of Spotone dyes and a pad of Kodak Velox tints. Diluting one or more of these and applying with a very fine brush gives me a good colour match and control for just about any print.

SuzanneR · Aug 11, 2014

Like others, I found them a bit difficult to use, though I didn't have a problem matching tones, they just seemed to put too much ink down. That said, with some practice, I got better at using them, but still prefer Spotone with a tiny brush.

cowanw · Aug 11, 2014

I think they are the cat's meow. Start light and work up. There are kits of different warmth. I thought they were discontinued.

eddie · Aug 11, 2014

I have a few sets of them, but still spot with a dry brush. The pens often left a halo around the area I was spotting.

TheFlyingCamera · Aug 11, 2014

I infinitely prefer them to spotting with a brush. They make life so much easier - just pick a pen with a tone one step lighter than you think you need, and try it. If it's too light, bump one up. If it's too dark, a damp q-tip will remove it easily.

David Brown · Aug 11, 2014

They are my preferred method. What I really work at is making prints without spots in the first place.

Rhodes · Aug 11, 2014

Thanks for the replies. My problem with brushes is big incompetence in using them, so the pens did look an attractive solution. David, my enlarger is a spotty one, I already tried to unspot him, but he didn't like so...

Jim Noel · Aug 11, 2014

I dislike them intensely. Give me a good 00000 brush and watercolors anytime.

RalphLambrecht · Aug 11, 2014

Rhodes said:
Any one use or experimented with SpotPen kit? Saw it on http://www.thephotoshop.ie/ and thought that coud be a nice kit to have.

I tried them but much prefer the real spotting dyesif you can still find them.I was lucky enough to stock up before they vanished but, a simple Chinese ink stick will do the job as well.

vdonovan · Aug 11, 2014

I use the spot pens regularly, but it doesn't make the task easy. You still need patience and a very light touch. Glossy prints are a pain in the neck since they don't absorb the dye quickly.

What I like about the pens is that all of the tones are pre-mixed right there, so you can quickly grab what you need. And they have a warmtone version as well.
Before spotting an exhibition print, I sit myself down with a few work prints and spot them, just to get in the groove. It does help to lightly moisten the surface of glossy prints prior to spotting. Even breathing on them helps.

RalphLambrecht · Aug 12, 2014

vdonovan said:
I use the spot pens regularly, but it doesn't make the task easy. You still need patience and a very light touch. Glossy prints are a pain in the neck since they don't absorb the dye quickly.

What I like about the pens is that all of the tones are pre-mixed right there, so you can quickly grab what you need. And they have a warmtone version as well.
Before spotting an exhibition print, I sit myself down with a few work prints and spot them, just to get in the groove. It does help to lightly moisten the surface of glossy prints prior to spotting. Even breathing on them helps.

aminute in Sistan does wonders for dye absorption
just sayin'

thefizz · Aug 12, 2014

Of course I will sound biased but I find the pens very easy to use and like them. I got my set in 2002, long before I started selling them and they still work perfectly today.

Peter

Rhodes · Aug 12, 2014

Well, at least I already have sistan!

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