Hello all.
I realize that the problem of newton rings has been discussed at length before (I think I've read about everything that pertains to it) but I'm posting this in the faint hope that maybe someone's come up with The Definitive Solution since the last go-round. Also, to tell you the truth it makes me feel good to be able to rant about a problem that many of you have undoubtedly encountered (or is it just me?) and can relate to. When I start spouting off about newton rings to my wife her eyes just glaze over... Anyway, here's my trouble:
I'm attempting to make 8x10 contact prints using a Bostick and Sullivan contact printing frame. I'm getting terrible newton rings forming between the glass and the negative. I can see the rings clearly when tilting the frame at a certain angle in ordinary room light. The rings get better when I place the negatives backwards, but obviously this is not going to be a good long term solution. Many have suggested getting AR glass, which I did (Tru-Vue Museum). Unfortunately, the rings are as bad as ever. It does not seem to matter what type of film I use. The rings are not generally visible in the final prints except in clear, uniform areas. But even in prints without clear, uniform areas, just knowing that those damn rings are lurking in there somewhere bugs me... (it's here that my wife grows concerned about my mental state).
In any case, what now? Has anyone tried frosted glass? I've read that with the anti-newton ring glass, a faint pattern can show up on the prints from the etched texture, but I'm wondering if ordinary frosted glass might be better. How about the sprays? While it makes me nervous to be spraying anything on my negatives, at this point I'm getting desperate. Maybe it's the printing frame itself; too much pressure? It seems kind of strange that something especially designed for contact printing would have such a problem...
Any help, or even commiseration, would be greatly appreciated. Arrghhh!
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