The right darkroom book?

The right darkroom book?


Curious if there is a current book that covers film 'developing' on subjects such as
the effects that specific developers will have of specific films and such, like bring-
ing out the best sharpness and contrasty tonality with shadow detail.

The idea is a specialist book of teaching these things, I am no expert and have had
very little experience in the long past... I looked in Border's books, the only two I
could find were AA's 'The Negative' (too old?) and 'The Darkroom Handbook'
which looked really old (as new). Maybe either book are kept up in revision?
Would either book cover the current World's compilation of chemicals and films?

Any help very much appreciated,

--
Giant Alex }<)))*>
not my site: * w w w .e-sword . net /

Re: The right darkroom book?

When I worked in the darkroom I was very happy with the:

Post Exposure (Advanved Techniques for the Photographic Printer)

Written by "CTEIN" (Focal Press)

The 2nd edition I have is from year 2000.

Max


"AAvK" <notforspam@nowhere . net > skrev i en meddelelse
news:0ODvj.198$0G7.42@newsfe10.phx...
>
> Curious if there is a current book that covers film 'developing' on
> subjects such as
> the effects that specific developers will have of specific films and such,
> like bring-
> ing out the best sharpness and contrasty tonality with shadow detail.
>
> The idea is a specialist book of teaching these things, I am no expert and
> have had
> very little experience in the long past... I looked in Border's books, the
> only two I
> could find were AA's 'The Negative' (too old?) and 'The Darkroom Handbook'
> which looked really old (as new). Maybe either book are kept up in
> revision?
> Would either book cover the current World's compilation of chemicals and
> films?
>
> Any help very much appreciated,
>
> --
> Giant_Alex }<)))*>
> not my site: * w w w .e-sword . net /

Re: The right darkroom book?

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:40:16 -0800, "AAvK" <notforspam@nowhere . net >
wrote:

>
>Curious if there is a current book that covers film 'developing' on subjects such as
>the effects that specific developers will have of specific films and such, like bring-
>ing out the best sharpness and contrasty tonality with shadow detail.
>
>The idea is a specialist book of teaching these things, I am no expert and have had
>very little experience in the long past... I looked in Border's books, the only two I
>could find were AA's 'The Negative' (too old?) and 'The Darkroom Handbook'
>which looked really old (as new). Maybe either book are kept up in revision?
>Would either book cover the current World's compilation of chemicals and films?
>
>Any help very much appreciated,

Most authors have moved on to the field of digital imaging though in
truth I don't think materials have changed much in the last 5~10 years
since the digital desimation. You might consider some of the following

The Darkroom Cookbook
Author : Stephen G. Anchell
Publisher : Elsevier Science & Technology Book
ISBN 0240804236

The Film Developing Cookbook : Advanced Techniques for Film Developing
Authors : Bill Troop & Stephen Anchell
Publisher : Focal Press
ISBN: 0240802772

The Darkroom Handbook
Author : Michael John Langford
Publisher : Knopf Publishing Group
ISBN 0394724682

The Photographers Handbook
Author : John Hedgecoe
Publisher : Knopf Publishing Group
ISBN 0679742042

Beyond the Zone System
Author : Phil Davis
Publisher : Focal Press
ISBN 0240803434

John
w w w .darkroompro . com

Re: The right darkroom book?

On Feb 22, 9:06 pm, John <use ...@usenet . com > wrote:
> On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:40:16 -0800, "AAvK" <notfors...@nowhere . net >
> wrote:
>
>
>
> >Curious if there is a current book that covers film 'developing' on subje=
cts such as
> >the effects that specific developers will have of specific films and such=
, like bring-
> >ing out the best sharpness and contrasty tonality with shadow detail.
>
> >The idea is a specialist book of teaching these things, I am no expert an=
d have had
> >very little experience in the long past... I looked in Border's books, th=
e only two I
> >could find were AA's 'The Negative' (too old?) and 'The Darkroom Handbook=
'
> >which looked really old (as new).  Maybe either book are kept up in rev=
ision?
> >Would either book cover the current World's compilation of chemicals and =
films?
>
> >Any help very much appreciated,
>
> Most authors have moved on to the field of digital imaging though in
> truth I don't think materials have changed much in the last 5~10 years
> since the digital desimation. You might consider some of the following
>
> The Darkroom Cookbook
> Author : Stephen G. Anchell
> Publisher : Elsevier Science & Technology Book
> ISBN 0240804236
>
> The Film Developing Cookbook : Advanced Techniques for Film Developing
> Authors : Bill Troop & Stephen Anchell
> Publisher : Focal Press
> ISBN: 0240802772
>
> The Darkroom Handbook
> Author : Michael John Langford
> Publisher : Knopf Publishing Group
> ISBN 0394724682
>
> The Photographers Handbook
> Author : John Hedgecoe
> Publisher : Knopf Publishing Group
> ISBN 0679742042
>
> Beyond the Zone System
> Author : Phil Davis
> Publisher : Focal Press
> ISBN 0240803434
>
> Johnw w w .darkroompro . com

Thanks for the list, but what became of w w w .darkroompro . com ?

Re: The right darkroom book?

On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:29:38 -0800 (PST), Peter <w2tga@hotmail . com >
wrote:

>Thanks for the list, but what became of w w w .darkroompro . com ?

It's still there of course but I'm waiting for the old registrar
(Godaddy) to release the domain name to the new registrar
(Webmasters . com ) where I'm going to be hosting the domain going
forward. Unfortunately there is a 4 day holding period from the date
the registrar receives the authorzation to release the domain. Also,
once this was done I couldn't update the servers information so the
domain still resolves to Dreahost . com which was the previous webhost.
It should be released on Tuesday or Wednesday and I'll get everything
back in order by Friday. In the meantime I've temporarliy uploaded
everything to one of my secondary domains at w w w .xs750 . net

JD

Re: The right darkroom book?

On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 08:29:17 -0600, John <use_net@usenet . com > wrote:

>On Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:29:38 -0800 (PST), Peter <w2tga@hotmail . com >
>wrote:
>
>>Thanks for the list, but what became of w w w .darkroompro . com ?
>
>It's still there of course but I'm waiting for the old registrar
>(Godaddy) to release the domain name to the new registrar
>(Webmasters . com )

Speedbump ! Well after moving everything to webmasters . com I started
getting email from people on AOL saying they couldn't access it. I'm
moving it back to Godaddy however webmasters . com has the domain tied
up. What is up with these people ? ! Any, most everything is up at
Legacy-photo . com for now. So much fun, so little time !

JD

Re: The right darkroom book?

AAvK wrote:
>
> Curious if there is a current book that covers film 'developing' on
> subjects such as the effects that specific developers will have of
> specific films and such, like bring- ing out the best sharpness and
> contrasty tonality with shadow detail.
>
> The idea is a specialist book of teaching these things, I am no expert
> and have had very little experience in the long past... I looked in
> Border's books, the only two I could find were AA's 'The Negative' (too
> old?)

Photographic principles have not changed much since Ansel Adams wrote his
books. The more recent editions (since 1981) of "The Negative" and "The
Print" mainly reflect the newer materials available since the first edition
was printed. Since that time, really good papers, such as Kodak's Elite,
have disappeared due to decreasing demand and, allegedly, environmental
concerns. There were no data for Kodak's TMax films yet; IIRC, they came out
around 1982.

> and 'The Darkroom Handbook' which looked really old (as new).
> Maybe either book are kept up in revision? Would either book cover the
> current World's compilation of chemicals and films?

The principles will be fine. The actual materials can be a little different,
but in any case, you would need to run tests to cover your particular
equipment and procedures.
>
> Any help very much appreciated,
>


--
.~. Jean-David Beyer Registered Linux User 85642.
/V\ PGP-Key: 9A2FC99A Registered Machine 241939.
/( )\ Shrewsbury, New Jersey * counter.li.org
^^-^^ 10:55:01 up 10 days, 17:06, 1 user, load average: 4.02, 4.18, 4.16

Re: The right darkroom book?

"Jean-David Beyer" <jeandavid8@verizon . net > wrote in message
news:QtXvj.1700$Hd.679@trnddc02...
> AAvK wrote:
>> [...]
> Photographic principles have not changed much since Ansel Adams wrote his
> books. The more recent editions (since 1981) of "The Negative" and "The
> Print" mainly reflect the newer materials available since the first
> edition
> was printed.

Jean-David, does the most recent version of The Print include VC papers?

As an aside, our local library has a great old book on paper flashing as a
means to control contrast range. But Agfa #6 is long gone.

Re: The right darkroom book?

jjs wrote:
> "Jean-David Beyer" <jeandavid8@verizon . net > wrote in message
> news:QtXvj.1700$Hd.679@trnddc02...
>> AAvK wrote:
>>> [...]
>> Photographic principles have not changed much since Ansel Adams wrote
>> his books. The more recent editions (since 1981) of "The Negative" and
>> "The Print" mainly reflect the newer materials available since the
>> first edition was printed.
>
> Jean-David, does the most recent version of The Print include VC papers?
>
Mine is copyright 1983. The index cites
"Variable-contrast papers 26, 30, 31, 48, 121-123.

> As an aside, our local library has a great old book on paper flashing as a
> means to control contrast range. But Agfa #6 is long gone.

He also discusses this in three paragraphs on page 123.

--
.~. Jean-David Beyer Registered Linux User 85642.
/V\ PGP-Key: 9A2FC99A Registered Machine 241939.
/( )\ Shrewsbury, New Jersey * counter.li.org
^^-^^ 17:25:01 up 11 days, 23:36, 1 user, load average: 4.05, 4.07, 4.07

Re: The right darkroom book?


<jjs> wrote in message
news:13s0n0pikd8p5be@news.supernews . com ...
> "Jean-David Beyer" <jeandavid8@verizon . net > wrote in
> message news:QtXvj.1700$Hd.679@trnddc02...
>> AAvK wrote:
>>> [...]
>> Photographic principles have not changed much since Ansel
>> Adams wrote his
>> books. The more recent editions (since 1981) of "The
>> Negative" and "The
>> Print" mainly reflect the newer materials available since
>> the first edition
>> was printed.
>
> Jean-David, does the most recent version of The Print
> include VC papers?
>
> As an aside, our local library has a great old book on
> paper flashing as a means to control contrast range. But
> Agfa #6 is long gone.
>
Flashing is mentioned in a lot of older books.
FWIW, Agfa used a different numbering system for its
papers, each number being one grade softer than anyone else,
until pretty late, maybe around 1980 when it adopted the ISO
standard system. So "normal" contrast, which was No.2 in
Kodak or Ilford was No.3 in Agfa.
The first variable contrast papers were made by Ilford
and Defender about 1940 or 41. I remember visiting a
darkroom where Defender Varigam was in use but don't
remember ever having used it myself. It had a reputation for
producing lower quality prints than graded paper but that
may have been from lack of skill in its use.
I do have a couple of old Defender and Dupont Defender
paper sample books but, unlike their Kodak and Ansco/Agfa
counterparts, the samples have all become badly sulfided and
oxidized so there is no way to tell what they originally
looked like.
I did use Defender Velour Black for a time, a good paper
but being in highschool and having no money I switched to
Gevaert Artex which I could get cheap.


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@ix . net com . com

Re: The right darkroom book?



jjs wrote:

> "Jean-David Beyer" <jeandavid8@verizon . net > wrote in message
> news:QtXvj.1700$Hd.679@trnddc02...
>
>>AAvK wrote:
>>
>>> [...]
>>
>>Photographic principles have not changed much since Ansel Adams wrote his
>>books. The more recent editions (since 1981) of "The Negative" and "The
>>Print" mainly reflect the newer materials available since the first
>>edition
>>was printed.
>
>
> Jean-David, does the most recent version of The Print include VC papers?
>
> As an aside, our local library has a great old book on paper flashing as a
> means to control contrast range. But Agfa #6 is long gone.
>
>

Hello, An interesting source are the books that date from before WWII
and the early 50's. I have a collection of them. Pick them up at garage
sales and flea markets. As somebody pointed out, photo techniques, per
se, have not changed, give or take, there new films , papers but the
basic techniques are valid. The majority of these books are addressed
to amateur photography enthusiats, phoot club members, kids in
highschool, so everything had to be well explained, step by step, what
happens with each step and its relative importance, darkroom tips, loads
of formulas for everything and anything. You find a lot of them in "The
DarkRoom CookBook". They have diagrams for wiring, building a darkroom,
plumbing, everything that a kid needs to know on how to build a darkroom
with the help of his dad. I find a lot of interesting ideas, techniques
that are no longer used and forgotten The chemistry is not overly
academic. They give what you need to know.

When I was a kid, we used to read "Popular Mechanics" and and there
would be articles on how to build you own enlarger, using tomato cans,
magnifying glass, light bulb and what not. Great fun.

Cheers,
Bogdan



--
________________________________________________________________
Bogdan Karasek
Montr‚al, Qu‚bec bogdan@bogdanphoto . com
Canada w w w .bogdanphoto . com

"I bear witness"
________________________________________________________________

Re: The right darkroom book?


"Bogdan Karasek" <bkarasek@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:a3Owj.25153$ZQ3.42075@wagner.videotron . net ...
>
>
> jjs wrote:
>
>> "Jean-David Beyer" <jeandavid8@verizon . net > wrote in message
>> news:QtXvj.1700$Hd.679@trnddc02...
>>
>>>AAvK wrote:
>>>
>>>> [...]
>>>
>>>Photographic principles have not changed much since Ansel Adams wrote his
>>>books. The more recent editions (since 1981) of "The Negative" and "The
>>>Print" mainly reflect the newer materials available since the first
>>>edition
>>>was printed.
>>
>>
>> Jean-David, does the most recent version of The Print include VC papers?
>>
>> As an aside, our local library has a great old book on paper flashing as
>> a means to control contrast range. But Agfa #6 is long gone.
>>
>
> Hello, An interesting source are the books that date from before WWII and
> the early 50's. I have a collection of them. Pick them up at garage sales
> and flea markets. As somebody pointed out, photo techniques, per se, have
> not changed, give or take, there new films , papers but the basic
> techniques are valid. The majority of these books are addressed to
> amateur photography enthusiats, phoot club members, kids in highschool, so
> everything had to be well explained, step by step, what happens with each
> step and its relative importance, darkroom tips, loads of formulas for
> everything and anything. You find a lot of them in "The DarkRoom
> CookBook". They have diagrams for wiring, building a darkroom, plumbing,
> everything that a kid needs to know on how to build a darkroom with the
> help of his dad. I find a lot of interesting ideas, techniques that are
> no longer used and forgotten The chemistry is not overly academic. They
> give what you need to know.
>
> When I was a kid, we used to read "Popular Mechanics" and and there would
> be articles on how to build you own enlarger, using tomato cans,
> magnifying glass, light bulb and what not. Great fun.
>
I remember articles like that in Pop Mech! Actually, I built an adjustable
enlarger stand from plans in PM. It had a shelf that slid into slots as that
larger prints could be made than the orginal baseboard would allow. (Tomato
cans were used for 35mm, if you wanted medium format, you had to use coffee
cans!)

Those old books can give you an interesting slant on how to 'make do'
without spending a pile of money on shiny equipment.

Re: The right darkroom book?

Bogdan Karasek wrote:
> Hello, An interesting source are the books that date from before WWII
> and the early 50's. I have a collection of them. Pick them up at garage
> sales and flea markets. As somebody pointed out, photo techniques, per
> se, have not changed, give or take, there new films , papers but the
> basic techniques are valid. .......


I remember doing exactly that in the mid 1960's. Being broke, but
inventive, my first darkroom trays were the lids that large
containers of potato salad, etc came in. I made an enlarger
from two coffee cans, a light bulb and socket and used my camera,
a Kodak Tourist 620 as the lens.

My first roll of film was a flop. I very carefully tray developed it
using a red safelight as all the books said I could. Unfortunately,
Kodak had since replaced Verichrome (an orthochromatic film) with
Verichrome Pan (panchromatic, i.e. sensitive to red) but none of
the books were new enough to mention the difference.

By the time I did my second roll, I went out and bought a cheap
daylight tank.

Geoff.


--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel gsm@mendelson . com N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (07)-7424-1667 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
Visit my 'blog at * geoffstechno.livejournal . com /

Re: The right darkroom book?


"AAvK" <notforspam@nowhere . net > wrote in message news:0ODvj.198$0G7.42@newsfe10.phx...
>
> Curious if there is a current book that...
> --
> Giant_Alex }<)))*>
> not my site: * w w w .e-sword . net /



Okay all, thank you very much for the replies, I will save everything to a text.
Much appreciated.

--
Giant_Alex }<)))*>
not my site: * w w w .e-sword . net /