Dry Plates (handmade) - Tips & Tricks, Experiences & Examples . . .

[jon.oman]

Interesting!

[DannL]

Attachment 101169

Coated six half-plates the other day, five of which appear to be free of bubbles. The sixth plate (print above) was used for exposure testing because it had at least four large bubbles in the emulsion. I guess I was in a hurry and missed them. But, I am pleased with the results. The stakes are much higher now.

Half-Plate (4.75"x6.5") glass; spray coated with Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane, clear/gloss
24 hours cure time
Coated with Liquid Light
24 hours cure time
Half-Plate Field camera w/R. H. McBean Lens (Rapid type)
Exposure: 8 Seconds @ f/32
Plate developed in Dektol 1:2, 1.5 minutes
Contact printed on Kodak Polycontrast III RC (F) glossy 5x7
Kodak PolyMax filter #5
Print developed in Dektol 1:2, 1.5 minutes

[SergeiR]

Thanks John!

I read elsewhere that as the emulsion cures on the plate that it's speed may gradually increase. I'm curious what I could expect with between a week and several weeks to a month of curing? Granted, that may be a question that is too specific.

it might peel off and die. Which is exactly what happened to 4 of my plates when i left them sitting for about 2 months (was traveling)

[DannL]

it might peel off and die. Which is exactly what happened to 4 of my plates when i left them sitting for about 2 months (was traveling)

Did you prepare the plates with some form of substrate, or was it emulsion applied directly to the glass?

+

Now that I recall all of those plate cameras that I've parted with over the years . . . I wish that I had kept them.

[DannL]

Attachment 101402 Attachment 101403 Attachment 101404

Some sample prints from the latest batch of plates. The last image is a close-up crop (scan) from the print of the brick wall.

Exposure: 8 seconds @ f/32 ; Bright sunny daylight conditions. Half-Plate Field camera, and a lens cap. Contact printed on Kodak paper.

Things learned:

Carrying glass plates really adds to the weight of the old camera bag.
Bubbles in the emulsions can be a problem.
Printing is a breeze. Just lay the plate negative on the printing paper. Expose as required.
Scanning plate negatives can be problematic, encouraging printing.

[DannL]

The adventure continues. I purchased a food warming tray to warm the plates when coating. After coating two 8x10 plates the other evening, and inspecting the dried plates last evening . . . I believe the puzzle with bubbles in the emulsion has been solved.

[Tin Can]

Very interesting.

Good lessons!

[DannL]

I forgot about this thread that we started on Dry Plates. I need to stay on the ball.

Here's a hybrid image of sorts, taken from a plate in my latest batch. I doubt if I'll be printing this particular plate, since an experiment to clip the corners of the plate went somewhat awry. After that I think the plate lost much of it's appeal. But, it still made for a good test.

I made eleven of these plates in the same batch, trying to maintain uniformity. The plate used to create the image here turned out to be free of bubbles for the most part. The addition of Photo-Flo to the emulsion appears to have helped quite a bit. I don't recall the specific amount of Photo-Flo added to the mix, but it wasn't very much.

Attachment 115046 Attachment 115047

Sands & Hunter Exhibition 5x4
R. J. Beck 5x4 Rect. 7 inch
Dry-Plate, ISO 1, f/30, 8 second exp., Dektol


On the side; I'm currently working on a different "rapid method" for subbing the plates. The process, if it pans out, will use Polystyrene as the subbing agent, and should take just a few seconds per plate. Fingers are crossed.

So, how "is" the Dry Plate community doing? Busy as bees making plates . . . I must imagine.

[stawastawa]

Wonderful recent image!
I sure am enjoying hearing of the adventure and process!

[David R Munson]

Looking forward to seeing more of this, really wanting to do dry plate stuff in the next few years.