[MF3D.FORUM:187] B&W technique

[Sam <3dhacker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>
>Sam, I would like to know about your technique for black and white slides.
>
>Thanks,
>Brenda


Always wanting to get people interested in B&W stereo. The first step is to
shoot MF stereo with your favorite black and white negative film. I tend to
like Ilford products, but shoot Agfa (no Scala!) as well. If possible over
overexpose and/or overdevelop to get a nice dense negative.

The rest involves a darkroom (or dark room, as no major facilities or
equipment is needed). I buy Arista Ortho film in 5x7 sheets from Freestyle
real cheap. This is what the postive slide is on. The technique in brief
involves contact printing the negative through a piece of diffused white
glass. A small 7 1/2 watt or 15 watt white bulb will do for exposing, a red
7 1/2 watt bulb will do for developing. Developement and exposure are a
little more tricky depending on your own conditions, neg contrast and type
of developer. I currently use standard print developer and process by sight.

The real difficulty in this is controlling dust, which sticks out like a
sore thumb on a 3d positive. I have a ritual of carefully cleaning the work
area, blowing of both the neg and ortho film, as well as the diffused glass.

The big advantages are: more control of the finished slide, as you can vary
both contrast and exposure on the final image. You can make as many copies
as you want. You can tone, or hand color if so inspired. And finally, it's
REAL CHEAP !!!

I was turned onto Pyro last summer and have used it on every B&W neg ever
since, as the sharpness and latitude is absolutley amazing. 

Sam