Lynn Radeka masking kit

Has anyone out there bought the masking kit from Lynn Radeka?

His site is at www.radekaphotography.com

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I'm thinking about ordering one but I want to see if anyone has had a negative [no pun intended] experience with it first.

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Thanks for any information.

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Jason

Lynn uses very time tested methods to bring vitality to his images.

Simple exposure and development controls can acheive nearly the same

thing. But having had some fairly extensive masking training, I think

his kit is a good deal. Masking changes the internal contrast of the

image that can't be changed or manipulted any other way. It brings

life to scenes that can't be accomplished any other way. Masking is

fairly simple once you have figured out what it's used for and have a

reason to use it. It isn't a panacea for every problem neg you have.

I'd buy the kit for no other reason than the comprehensive instruction

manual he sends you. A Howard Bond workshop will cost you $300 for a

weekend and it's well worth it but Lynn's kit is worth every penny.

Learn contrast masking and dye dodging and take your images to the

next level. James

I have not seen the kit itself, but many parts of it are available

elsewhere-registration pins can be had for a couple bucks, the Dennis

McNutt article is online at Dennis's website

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http://www.vanguard.edu/DMcNutt/Photo/Art1.html

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along with the plans for making a registration carrier.

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I recommend searching for an electronics supplier, and you might find

pins at a much cheaper price than the Milton Bregman CO, which McNutt

recommends. American Circuit Technology has 1/16 x1/4 inch pins for a

very reasonable price (they have a web page) but they dont carry 1/4 x

1/4 inch pins. Bregman requires you to buy a set of 8, which is

basically a 4-lifetime supply.

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Ansco 120 formula is available many places. I dont know what his

highlight bleach formula is, but I doubt its proprietary.

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You dont need Duratrans, you can buy a piece of white plexiglass for

several dollars. Plexiglass is much easier to work with, but you can

also pick up frosted films like Herculene at some printing or

blueprint shops for a few pennies. My shop gave me a sheet for free,

but I prefer the plexi.

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Still, despite all that, the price doesnt seem TOO unreasonable for

putting everything together in one package including instruction.