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Degroto
12-Dec-2013, 04:09
Hi,

I will be shooting some portraits with Impossible 8x10. I have read some user experiences and seen some photo's. I want to know if there are any tips while using the film.
I will be shooting indoors using two Softboxes to light the subject. I have read that the iso should be between 800 and 1000 instead of 640. Is this correct to get the best results?
I will not going to attempt to peel the photo apart but I plan to use a bag and silica to dry the film more quickly.

Any thoughts on the coloring of the film whle drying? I will be using the black and white film. I bought it in juli 2013.

Thanks in advance.

Degroto
12-Dec-2013, 06:51
Sorry Dakotah Jackson it is not meant to be a personal attack :-) but I thought that I would get a reaction like this. Let me make it clear. I do not want a discussion on the quality of impossible film. I want te get some advice, pointers or tips on how to use it the first time. If you don't want to contribute in a helpful manner please stay out. Get away and don't read anything that is posted here. I am NOT interested in a discussion. If you don't like the film don't use it!

Kind regards,

Peter

vinny
12-Dec-2013, 07:54
this thread (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/search.php?searchid=2378270) might be of some help.

Cletus
12-Dec-2013, 08:32
Touchy touchy! I don't think Dakotah's innocent little remark was actually an ATTACK, so much as a wry observation. If it isn't helpful to you, just disregard it right?

Try lightening up a little and maybe you'll find someone willing to help you out.

Kind Regards - Cletus

C_Remington
12-Dec-2013, 09:07
If it is impossible, how can you use it?

I thought the same thing. Maybe should just be called, "Difficult to Use 8x10"

Maybe?

Ari
12-Dec-2013, 09:25
This may help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn67HMKsPh4

petetsai
12-Dec-2013, 09:27
Hopefully this will be of more use...

Shot this color shade beta at 320iso the color shade is rated at 400.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8583813527_75da177da7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/petetsai/8583813527/)
Valencia (http://www.flickr.com/photos/petetsai/8583813527/) by PeteTsai (http://www.flickr.com/people/petetsai/), on Flickr

This is a sheet of Silver Shade Shot in China at the end of our assignment.
From what I remember I also rated the silver shade a bit lower, I think 400 even though it is rated at 640 but it could have been box rated. I know for sure I have never shot it above its rating, and I've processed over 40 sheets of the silver shade.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/8732084486_0fe49c0d5f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/petetsai/8732084486/)
The Team (http://www.flickr.com/photos/petetsai/8732084486/) by PeteTsai (http://www.flickr.com/people/petetsai/), on Flickr

Be prepared to clean the rollers well after each sheet, this reagent from IP is much more plentiful and messy as compared to the polaroid sheets I've used. Keep it in the dark/low light until its fully finished processing. I Generally leave it in the tray for 5 minutes before opening. The film also felt to me to have a more limited dynamic range as compared to the 809 and 804 I've used.

Hope this helps...

adelorenzo
12-Dec-2013, 10:02
Not an expert but I'm working my way through my first box. I have been ratiing it at ISO 400 with strobes.

I tried peeling two sheets and got total and immediate destruction of the image. So I've put a couple of them into the bags to dry although honestly the RH in my darkroom right now is hovering aroung 20% so I'd probably be better to leave 'em out.

Mine seem to have color shifted a bit but my box was also made in October 2012 so it's a bit on the old side.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/11034458716_c675eb69a2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/delorenzo/11034458716/)
Self portrait on Impossible 8x10 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/delorenzo/11034458716/) by Anthony DeLorenzo (http://www.flickr.com/people/delorenzo/), on Flickr

Degroto
12-Dec-2013, 15:47
Thanks for the tips. So iso 400 when using strobes? Thanks. I will read the links a little later.

About the touchy feely part from my side. Just wanted things to be clear thats all. :-) To many topics gone bad because people seem to need to put Impossible down or something. Don't want to go there this time :-)

adelorenzo
12-Dec-2013, 16:44
In the 10 things you should know (https://static.the-impossible-project.com/resources/8x10/8x10_basic_sheet.pdf) pamphlet it says that flash slows the effective ASA. It doesn't provide any numbers but I must have gotten ISO 400 from somewhere.

I like the Impossible 8x10 as it is and I know they are working on improving the product (that is why the 8x10 is unavailable right now). I'll take that any day over paying 2-3x the price for expired Polaroid 809 that may not even work anymore.

Degroto
13-Dec-2013, 02:17
Because people who work with Impossible 8x10 film know what I am talking about. If you don't know what I am talking about you could ask a question with enough information why you aks that question. Also the second sentence in my post revealed that I was talking about a film: "I want to know if there are any tips while using the film." So maybe reading the whole post would give you some idea's. When talking about iso valeues it rarely meant camera's but more often film. Also the sentence did not give you the idea that I was talking about film? "I will not going to attempt to peel the photo apart but I plan to use a bag and silica to dry the film more quickly."

But like I said the post was not meant to critiseze you personally although I do understand ,reading it back, that you can read it like that. Therefor my apologies to you Dakotah.

Ray Heath
13-Dec-2013, 02:38
Because people who work with Impossible 8x10 film know what I am talking about. If you don't know what I am talking about you could ask a question with enough information why you aks that question. Also the second sentence in my post revealed that I was talking about a film: "I want to know if there are any tips while using the film." So maybe reading the whole post would give you some idea's. When talking about iso valeues it rarely meant camera's but more often film. Also the sentence did not give you the idea that I was talking about film? "I will not going to attempt to peel the photo apart but I plan to use a bag and silica to dry the film more quickly."

But like I said the post was not meant to critiseze you personally although I do understand ,reading it back, that you can read it like that. Therefor my apologies to you Dakotah.

Hmm, you seem to have left yourself open Degro. But that said, I also have little idea what your meaning. I assume you're talking about a Polaroid type product.

So a few clarifying questions;
What do you mean about not pealing apart?

Didn't the Polaroid 8x10 need a machine to process/transfer/peal?

Can the negative be retained and reprinted by contact as per some of the 4x5 materials?

Isn't the per shot cost grossly expensive?

And finally, and in no way deliberately meaning to be aggressive, why bother using this material?

Degroto
13-Dec-2013, 04:06
Hmm, you seem to have left yourself open Degro. But that said, I also have little idea what your meaning. I assume you're talking about a Polaroid type product.

So a few clarifying questions;
What do you mean about not pealing apart?

Didn't the Polaroid 8x10 need a machine to process/transfer/peal?

Can the negative be retained and reprinted by contact as per some of the 4x5 materials?

Isn't the per shot cost grossly expensive?

And finally, and in no way deliberately meaning to be aggressive, why bother using this material?

Impossible makes Polaroid like material. My question was aimed at people who use it. The 8x10 points at the 8x10 film Impossible Project is producing. This is also integral material meaning when you have put the positive and the exposed negative through the processor you are not meant to take apart the positive and the negative. With the old Polaroid 8x10 you where supposed to do so. However because of drying issues with the Impossible 8x10 you can peel it apart and get good results with it. I am not planning to do this.

You do need a processor which I have. You need it to get the developing paste between the positive and the exposed negative in an even manner.

No the negative cannot be reused as a traditional negative the you can use in an enlarger. However when you clean the negative you are able to scan it. I don't know what the results are however.

One pack of 8x10 cost me €169,00 for 10 photos. Expensive yes but not a lot more the for 10 sheets Fuji acros 8x10.

Your last question i have several answers. I do like the material although it is not perfect. I like the idea to shoot an instant film of 8x10 inch large. Also I do support the Impossible Project. I understand that they do not have perfect materials yet and that they are working on it. They have said so from the beginning. I don't mind being an early adoptor and therefor pay a price which is to high for an imperfect product. I accept that and I enjoy using their products. Now more then at the beginning. That was sometimes dissappointing. I admit :) However I see progress in what they are doing. So to me it is worth buying their products from time to time. Not a lot because I don't hace the money for it but I do it anyway.

grantflanagan
20-Dec-2013, 02:36
What rock was I living under that I missed the Color Shade beta packs!?