From: bjs@RUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (Barry Sherman)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: Re: Prints from Slides
Date: 17 Dec 92 21:22:38 GMT
Reply-To: bjs@RUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (Barry Sherman)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

Ronald DeBlock writes:

>1. How easy/difficult is it to process Cibachrome at home?

Quite easy.  Good results can be had from a simple drum on a motor base
(or even hand rolled around the counter). For the greatest of ease, a Jobo
is very nice for temperature control and consistent agitation.  But the
simple equipment can produce very nice results.  Cibachrome is very 
temperature-variation tolerant, although for consistent results it's best
to maintain constant temperature.

Ilford prints a small book on processing Ciba and it can be obtained from
Adorama or B & H for ~$15 or so.  It's a good starting point.

Personally, I find that getting the color balance just right and getting
the exposure just right is less easy than processing the material.  But 
then I'm an unfortunate combination of perfectionist and klutz.  :-)

>2. How does one create a contrast mask?

Basically, by contact printing the original onto a sheet of black and white
film.   The film is developed to a low density and low contrast.  Ilford
has a publication on the subject of masking which is quite good.  A phone
call to them should secure it for you.

An even better way to learn is to take a workshop in the subject.  A local
gentleman named Charles Cramer teaches an excellent one in Yosemite each
year in the fall.  Costs $225 for a three day workshop and covers everything
you need to know to get going.  Some people find it a nice way to take
a vacation at Yosemite if they're not from this part of the country.   He
can be reachd at:

  Charles Cramer
  1234 Carmel Way
  Santa Clara CA
  (408) 243-0390.  

He's a real nice guy, an outstanding teacher and a world class color and b/w 
photographer.  The worst part about the class, though, is that he shows you
his dye-transfer prints and you realize that *that's* what you really want
to be doing.

>3. Once the contrast mask is created, how does one ensure that it is properly
>   aligned with the original transparency?

Ah, therein lies the rub.  Two ways:

* Use a loupe and a light table, have lots of patience and tape them togetner
  when you achieve success.  This may take anywhere from minutes to hours.
  I've done it.  I've hated it.  Everyone who does it hates it.  Don't forget 
  that it's not a good idea to sandwich dust between them.

* Purchase Condit Pin Registration equipment.  This is a set of gear, made
  by the Condig Mfg Co., which permits one to punch little holes in the
  edges of 8x10, 4x5 or medium format film and then use pins in the 
  contact printing frame and in the negative carrier to keep everything
  aligned (registered) at all times.  Works very, very well.  Even permits
  removing the negative carrier, changing masks and making iterative 
  exposures without no reduction in apparent sharpness.   35mm can be masked
  using this equipment by cutting a hole in a piece of larger film and 
  taping the unmounted 35mm transparency to it.

  This is the prefered technique.  Unfortunately, this is grossly over-priced
  (Can you say "monopoly"? :-)  A typical set of punch, contact print frame, 
  negative carrier and negative carrier holder will run ~$1000 (sic).  Negative 
  carrier holders are made for the most popular enlargers - Omega, Durst, 
  Beseler, Saunders (I think).  I lucked into my Condit gear through Shutterbug
  for less than 1/2 the new price, else I'd not have it.  To paraphrase the
  NRA - "I'll give up my Condit when you pry it from my cold, dead hand".
  
Barry

--


|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Barry Sherman, Amdahl Corp. | "It's much easier to go to exotic places and | 
| bjs@uts.ccc.amdahl.com      |  capture spectacular scenes than to take a   |
|                             |  spectacular picture of a really boring      |
|                             |  green pepper". - Anthony Tse                |
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| Amdahl, being a corporation, is a legal fiction.  Therefore it is incapable|
| of holding, let alone expressing, opinions.  Unfortunately, this has been  |
| said of me as well. (I.e.  My statments are mine, not Amdahl's.)           |
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Newsgroups: rec.photo