dennis_oconnor6

I found out today that visual inspection of negatives can be deceiving. I thought that the 'Mytol' developed ones had more contrast when I viewed them on my light box. However. When I put each of them in my enlarger (both negatives of the indentical scene) and used my analyser pro to sample them - they gave me identical readings. Oh well it was interesting to find out.

Looks like it was. Thanks for the reply. I was tryng to keep to the published dev times/temps. I have no need to investigate further.

I am finding that I get better negatives (contrast) with 'Mytol' rather than 'Instant Mytol'. I would like to know is it possible to make a stock solution of 'Mytol' in Propylene Glycol?

Yes. Very true.

Sometimes DIY projects are just not worth doing - except for the fun of it.

Yep you have to pay for quality I'm afraid. Yes it does switch off the safe light during exposure. I guess it makes sense to do a separate calibration at each grade. It would be nice if you could do a calibration at say Grade 2 and let the analyser sort all the rest out. I'll have some time to do the sequence during the coming lockdown.

I have been reading how to calibrate this analyser by Andrew Smallman. Although it is a simpler method than the analyser calibration manual uses I have one question I hope someone can answer. Do I have to take a 'light reading' for each grade of paper. What I mean is. If I want to create a test strip for Grade 1, do I have to take a reading with the analyser set to Grade 1. Then for grade 2, do I have to take a reading with the analyser set to Grade 2. and so on? It's a brilliant piece of kit - but complex to calibrate.

I was able to pose this question to a GIMP instructor on the web. His answer was 'unfortunately not'. It would have to be re-coded in order to be understood by GIMP. It could probably be done by someone with good coding skills - I don't have any so that is that. I did think of creating a 'step wedge', but it is the reading of the printed chart that would not be possible. Anyone up for a challenge?

After a long (very) break from photography I am getting back into making digital negatives. I have used Chartthrob in P/Shop but I have moved over to GIMP. Has anyone managed to install it in GIMP? If you have I would really appreciate knowing how you achieved it. Thank you.

Thank you for that Sandy. I have just ordered an aerosol of it to try.

Hello everyone. I have a project in mind but I need some advice. I have a lot of Resin Coated Glossy wet print paper. Is it possible to convert it into a 'Matte' finish by some chemical means? I do not want to use an abrasive paper on it. Thank you.

Thank you for this useful information. A 10% solution sounds promising. Dennis

I have just returned to BW wet darkroom photography I am using Barry Thornton' 2 bath developer. Is is possible to make a saturated solution of the 'Dev B' - sodium metaborate? Thank you

I second that.

<p>Oooohh Dear. Shortly after posting I stumbled upon the answer. It is to do with the scanning area of the printed chart. I have been scanning just the central squares that are used for analyzing. But I think there must be some relationship in the Charthrob programming that positions the analyzing areas, not in the centre of each square being analyzed, BUT at an X and Y coordinate from the outside edges of the chart! When I tested this idea and scanned the 'whole' chart all the analyzing areas were central to each square. All I can hope is that this piece of information proves useful to someone else.</p> <p>Dennis</p>