Prints from Realist

[P3D Duane Starcher <duane_starcher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Now the question:  I bought a Realist and have been shooting 3D since about
>May.  I made the 'mistake' of loading print film for my first roll.  I took
>it to a one-hour photo shop, and I told them that the film was not suitable
>for the standard 3x5...[no problem they said]...I came back and the prints
>were fairly well trashed, cut in all sorts of places, and the color balance
>was completely off between ones I was able to salvage.  Does anyone out
>there in cyberland shoot prints with his or her Realist and how do you get
>people to process and print color print film correctly?
>
>Kevin

        So far I shoot only prints on my Realist, most of which I mount for
parallel viewing either freeviewing or with a viewer and some that I mount
for cross-eyed viewing to be scanned and put on the net.  When I got the
camera, I took the first roll to a processor that I had used for standard
format and that I knew did custom work for local news/wedding photographers.
I explained what I wanted to the operator, directed that the film be
returned uncut and awaited the results.  I got excellent prints in most
instances.  The exceptions were when a frame was adjacent to the empty frame
at the beginning of the roll or when there was a great disparity between two
adjacent frames.  The problem for the operator is that the print machine
scans the full eight-perf negative, which means for the Realist that it
overlaps two five-perf frames.  The operator has to play around a bit to
overcome this and sometimes it is just not possible to get a perfect print.
There are ways around the problem if the shot is important, but take a bit
of explaining, practice and time.

        I have put about a dozen rolls through the camera now and every one
comes back slightly better than the one before.  It is important to get to
know your processor.  I took the mounted prints from my first roll back to
him and showed them to him with a good viewer.  He was most impressed with
the stereo effect and understood what was necessary to give me balanced
prints. Whenever I come through the door, I am kidded as being the 'stereo
guy' that is going to make extra work for him.   I know my negs take more
time and trouble to print, but I get the same rate as though it were a
normal run.  I end up with 4x6" prints with one full frame and a bit of an
adjacent one, which I cut off when I join the pair together.

        I hope my experience is helpful to you.

        Duane Starcher        
<"mailto:duane_starcher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx">
<"http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~duane/index.html>


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