P3D Stereo Cards

[bill3dbw3d@xxxxxxxx (Bill C Walton)]

I would like to add my two cents to this ongoing discussion.  I am
fortunate to be in some of the SSA folios with Ray Zone, David Lee and
Dick Twichell, plus I just received an entry in the 3rd SSA Intl Stereo
Card Exhibition from Bruce Springsteen.  All of these folks are producing
some excellent stereo cards and doing their part to keep the Classic
Format Alive.

Ray Zone asked about glossy or matte finish for cards.  Your choice as
both types have their supporters and detractors.  I use only fiber based
paper (I did see a small posting about the non-archival quality of RC
paper, which those of us in the SSA have been discussing for the past 10
years)  I like the finish of glossy paper, but I don't like the glossy
shine.  So I air dry my glossy prints and they turn out sort of either
semi-glossy or semi-matte, depending on your feelings about a 1/2 glass
of water.  A little aside on enlarging paper-For many years I have been
using Arista Bromide Grade 3, single weight enlarging paper for my stereo
prints.  All of sudden Freestyle Sales in Los Angeles doesn't stock it
anymore.  I tried several sources and could not find this paper.  Then I
contacted P3D Jeremy Hinton, of Bristol, England and explained my problem
and asked if he could help. He researched the problem and sure enough
Arista does not manufacture this paper anymore.  But Jeremy found a
similar paper, manufactured by Kentmere, ordered me a supply and packed
and mailed it to me.  It is a lot more expensive than what I was paying
for it in the US, but the important thing I now can print on paper that I
like.  THANKS AGAIN JEREMY.

Bruce Springsteen asked about using a household iron to mount prints with
dry mounting tissue.  Yes this works and I know at least two of the
better stereo card makers in the SSA, Bill Patterson and Brandt Rowles
both use this method.. I use dry mount tissue and a dry mount press, but
the presses are getting to be quite expensive.

Ray asked about card mount color-  I am sort of like Henry Ford was with
the Model T, any color as long as it is Black. Since I work in BW 99.5%
of the time, I think that the black mounts make my prints appear more
contrasty(And I really do like high contrast)   Plus the black doesn't
show dirt and grime like the lighter colored mounts do

On the separation of homologous points- That issue has been/will be
debated forever.  In Judge's books, he recommended 2 1/4 inches
separation, but in those days many folks were shooting with 2 1/4  x2 1/4
stereo cameras and making contact prints.  Many card makers try to keep
the separation between 75-80mm (despite the fact that many antique cards
exceed this a great deal)  I print my stereo prints 2  14/16 " wide and
mount them with a small gap between the prints, but I do not measure the
separation.  You can get so involved in measuring you miss the fun of
making stereo cards.

I very seldom print the whole negative when I am making stereo prints.  I
usually enlarge to improve (I think) the composition of the stereo card. 
I then crop for the window and print that part of the negative to the
aforementioned size.  Then all I have to do is line up the two images,
trim the bottoms so they are square with the world and remove the white
borders.  I normally trim them to a height of 3 1/4 inches, but may go to
a bigger size (Either called a cabinet or an Imperial or some other name-
Bruce)

One subject (among others) that has not been discussed on P3D is labeling
of Stereo cards.  This is one area that  this medium is far ahead of
stereo slides, due to the space incvolved.   We have a saying in the
stereo card community "Eliminate the Unknowns" and we encourage all
stereo card makers to put at least the basic who when where what  and
maybe the why on the labels of their cards.  Many member of the SSA use
computer generated images on their labels and some (such as those from
Stan White, Ernie Rairdin and others) labels are almost as much fun to
look at as the stereo images on the face of the card.   I have printed
over 2500 stereo cards and I think I have them all labeled so as to
eliminate the unknowns.

As far as getting color stereo negatives printed, that is not to big an
issue for me as I shoot mostly BW.  But when I do shoot color stereo
negatives I can get them printed in a 1 hour lab at nearby Fort Benning. 
The manager is a retired Sergeant First Class and he hand prints the
stereo negatives for me.  The smallest size he can print is 4" wide so I
have to trim away a lot of image before mounting.  

Stereo cards have a long history behind them and I think a long future in
front of them

Bill C Walton, ISC
(Who is Bill?)
bill3dbw3d@xxxxxxxxx  



 

   

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