To quote Homer...

wiseowl · Apr 16, 2005

DOH!

After a few months enforced exile from the darkroom I finally managed to get some "red light" time. I figured this would be a good time to try out 16X12 fibre, so bought some Ilford MG.

After a few test prints I was struggling to get a decent black, and the print looked much flatter than normal. Then it hit me, I've bought Matt instead of gloss! As I said earlier DOH!

So, what, if anything can I do to improve the Dmax, (To answer the usual, it was fresh dev at 20C, and I deliberately overexposed some prints but to no avail.) The deepest black I can achieve is just a dark gray, charcoal I suppose, and I really don't like what I'm seeing. I'm very peed off with myself at the moment, £40 down the pan because I didn't read a label. Ouch!

Any and all suggestions welcome.

Thanks

Martin

clogz · Apr 16, 2005

Hello Martin,
You could try selenium toning. This usually increases Dmax.

Hans

m_liddell · Apr 16, 2005

Sell it on ebay?

TPPhotog · Apr 16, 2005

Keep it and use it for people and flower subjects.

Claire Senft · Apr 16, 2005

There are I believe in Adam's book the print some formulas for print varnish that if I remember will increase black desnity and print reflectance.

When you quoted Homer I imagine this was the Homer of Homer and Jethro fame...thats the only Homer is it not?

Kirk Keyes · Apr 16, 2005

wiseowl said:
So, what, if anything can I do to improve the Dmax,

You could try waxing the surface to increase the Dmax - just like some of the platinum people sometimes do. I can't guarantee you will not end up with a waxy mess... but a smoother surface is the key to Dmax.

See the current Phototechniques mag that just came out for an explaination of Dmax and paper surface.

wiseowl · Apr 16, 2005

Thanks to all for your suggestions. Having lived with the prints for a day and mounted one, have had another play with it on some old portraits I think it's a look I could learn to like, for the right subjects of course. I still have a way to go before I learn to get the best out of it, but hey isn't learning half the fun.

Claire, I haven't read "Homer and Jethro", but if he ever said Doh! then that'll do for me LOL.

Cheers all

Martin.

Bob Carnie · Apr 16, 2005

hi martin

If you have matt paper no problem, Try printing a bit heavier than normal and then use bleach sepia to increase the contrast. The dry down prints look very nice and I use this combination on a regular basis.
Works very nicely with nudes, still lifes, mood images.

gainer · Apr 16, 2005

OK, now we know. You don't read Homer and Jethro. You would have seen them on screen.

To quote Homer...

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