Finally done with PMK. What next?

[Drew Wiley]

I don't mean to sound presumptuous, but what is the quality of your mix water as well as wash water?

[Gary L. Quay]

I don't mean to sound presumptuous, but what is the quality of your mix water as well as wash water?

Distilled water for mix, Portland water for wash.

--Gary

[Jac@stafford.net]

Have you tried Barry Thornton's Exactol Lux?

[Gary L. Quay]

The next question, I guess, is: does anyone know how to use a Kodak Model 1 densitometer? I have a very old one. It looks like it is from the 1930's or 1940's.

[Gary L. Quay]

Have you tried Barry Thornton's Exactol Lux?

Not yet. I have some from Photographers' Formulary that I haven't opened.

--Gary

[Gary L. Quay]

Testing doesn't really take that long can easily be done in a few hours of time. You have a densitometer so go for it!

I don't know how to use it. I've looked online for tutorials, but none deal with the model I have. it's a Kodak Model 1.

[Taija71A]

I don't know how to use it. I've looked online for tutorials, but none deal with the model I have. It's a Kodak Model 1.

____

Gary... Did you try here perhaps?
*It might be a 'longshot'... But then again...

e-mail: craigcamera@outlook.com
#KOD-1356 Instruction Manual -- Kodak Color Densitometer Model 1 (Reprint) $18.00
#KOD-1092 Instruction Manual -- Kodak Transmission Densitometer (1940) $25.00

--
Best regards,

-Tim.
_________

[Gary L. Quay]

____

Gary... Did you try here perhaps?

*It might be a 'longshot'. But then again...

e-mail: craigcamera@outlook.com
#KOD-1356 Instruction Manual -- Kodak Color Densitometer Model 1 (Reprint) $18.00
#KOD-1092 Instruction Manual -- Kodak Transmission Densitometer (1940) $25.00

--
Best regards,

-Tim.
_________

I've been to this page, but I have so far refused to pay that much for a photocopy, but as a last resort, I'll do it.

Thanks!

--Gary

[Gary L. Quay]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I suppose it's time to break down and buy the densitometer manual (unless someone wants to scan theirs and email it to me), and do the film testing. While some haven't had trouble with PMK, I am not ready to chalk it up entirely to used error. There doesn't seem to be any difference in the processing between the good negatives and bad ones. I've had lots of good ones. My experience hasn't been entirely bad. I just got done with two portrait jobs for paying clients, and all of the negs were developed in PMK, and all were flawless. I lose about one in 10 to the blotching. It's fairly mild, but it sometimes shows up in areas of uniform density, like cloudless skies. I will most likely to a test with a number of film / developer combinations, and pick the best ones. Thanks again!

--Gary

[frotog]

I know you've already committed to ditching the PMK but I'm curious about your technique as I've been there with the splotches and uneven development and subsequently spent a good deal of time working out the bugs of my PMK process. Are you tray developing by any chance?