Panchromatic plates................

<p>Hopefully this is the correct forum for my question.<br>

<strong>Background:</strong> Recently, my partner and I were talking about a photo project, when her Mum pipes up that she still has her late husbands camera and glass slides... somewhere. I said that if she ever found them, I would love to see it. A few days later I was presented (loaned) a black box camera with "Victor Klito" on the side and the name Krugenner on the lens - as well as a box of Kodak Plates.... Super XX panchromatic plates. All three plates have been exposed and have surprisingly clear definition... in B&W of course. The images appear to be around the late 1930's early 40's.<br>

Question: How on earth can I produce some prints from these plates? I was dumb enough to try a scan into PS in the hope of being able to create something... but what I thought I might achieve, didn't happen.<br>

I'm more interested in what and/or how I can do it, rather than the resultant image..... so suggestions of a photolab nature would not be of interest, unless of course I can do nothing and a photolab is the only answer.<br>

Appreciate any advice or assistance............ I will try to attach my scan of the plate.... if that will help at all.<br>

Regards</p>

<p>Sorry........... forgot to attach the image.<br>

Regards</p><div></div>

<p>Easiest would be to scan it with a scanner that has a built-in backlight for scanning negatives. The glass plate is simply a negative film emulsion on glass, instead of plastic film.</p>

<p>Next easiest would be to make contact prints from them, by putting the negative over photographic paper, exposing it, and developing it. But in this day and age, scanning is probably going to be the way to go.</p>

<p>Looks like it might be a cool image that's worth the trouble, in my opinion.</p>

<p>The only way to really do them justice is to get them onto photo paper. If you don't have an enlarger you can make a foray into contact printing using a dark room and any light source, and about $20 worth of chemicals. hardly scientific, and not very consistent, but I bet you'll have fun.</p>

<p>That is a hell of a find, I would love to get my hands on those, would be a lot of fun working with those.</p>

<p>A purpose built scanner with backlight, like an Epson V700 would be ideal.<br>

I would normally use Vuescan for that.</p>

<p>However you can get good results by placing it on a light box and taking a digital photo.<br>

I think small light boxes sold for craft work and are not expensive.<br>

Or, experiment with a cool fluorescent desk lamp.<br>

I think I heard of someone taping the plate to a window for the backlighting, not sure that is advisable though.</p>

<div></div>

<p>And the positive from Paint Shop pro.<br>

The full size tiff is somewhat better as you might expect.</p><div></div>

<p>Wow Guys!.......... thanks so much for the quick responses. Your ideas seem very helpful, and give me food for thought.<br>

Keith...... your images are great.<br>

Might take me a while, but I'll let you know how I get on. If it is a nice day tomorrow I'll try to take and post an image of the "ancient" camera.<br>

Thanks again.<br>

Regards</p>

<p>A computer screen makes a reasonably good makeshift light box. Open some empty "white" document on it and keep the negative at least 5 cm away, to blur out the individual RGB dots on the screen.</p>

Just in case you didn't get it yet. Use A small digi camera to photo the plates. tape them to a well lit window and then reverse (negative to postive in PS. There's lots of scanners that can do negs/positives, you only need to be sure that the scan/backlight source permits you to scan the complete image.

<p>Thanks guys........... the ingenuity just keeps rolling in.<br>

Will let you know how it turns out.<br>

Regards</p>

<p>I second the recommendation for the light box-digital camera combo.</p>

<p><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-o-j_xPxESLQ/TiL9XjtX-XI/AAAAAAAAAwI/2Bfvp3-Lb-E/New%252520Image%252520Bessa%252520post%252520CLA.JPG" alt="" width="500" height="339" /><br>

I second the recommendation for the light box-digital camera combo (above from a 1930 Bessa-shot Neopan "scanned" from a light box, with a digital P & S).</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Thanks for the support of the lightbox practice..... your image above gives some hope. I used to have a lightbox (somewhere), will need to check the garage.<br>

Regards</p>