Topic: Scanning Goop!

[Phil Bebbington]

This question may have been asked before, if it has, I apologise now.

I was inspired to ask when reading about how Skorj gives his Polaroids to his subjects and keeps the goop to scan. This naturally lead me to ponder my constant failure to scan the goop. I have sought advice from a few friends over the years, but, have never really yielded any good results. So, I guess we have  some experts here and would really like to know how to do this and get a result.

I was going to ask about films etc, but, I guess that is almost pointless now given the lack of range - anyway, I do have Fuji, 690 and 667 or 665 or both! The Polaroid is a pack or two, obviously the Fuji can still be got so I assume the answer may be based on that.

So, I would love some insight into the goop scanning that the filmwaters do.

Hey, sorry I was away for a while.

[moominsean]

i did a blog thing on this awhile ago...

http://moominsean.blogspot.com/2007/07/secret-society-of-goop.html

when you scan them, they are mostly gray. you have to adjust the contrast in PS.

[original_ann]

My biggest problem is waiting for negs to dry... don't know if it's just where I live, but they never seem to!  (A week later, still quite greasy. 

[moominsean]

humidity defnly slows down the drying. try hanging them in front of a fan. here they dry quickly, but when i was in LA, they didn't dry the entire time i was there. didn't seem to have a problem in japan, though...

[Skorj]

So, I would love some insight into the goop scanning that the filmwaters do.

Well... 99% of my work in the public domain is 665 negatives, not goop. So there's a whole different work flow used for that. Resealable bento or small Tupperware, mugi-cha wash, etc.

But, back onto the other 1% - the issue is film type and drying. On film type, I've only been able to repeat success on ISO3000 films. Take your pick - Fuji or Polaroid. Others can do differing goop recovery, including from color!

Drying in the field. What a nightmare. Driving in the car, you can lay out on the dashboard or back seat. Walking about, I've stuck them in pages of an old paperback. I've experimented with plastic sheets - no luck. I've been meaning to make a wax-paper folder but have not gone that far yet.

The only constant I've been able to control is the Sabitier Effect - over develop accordingly unless you want really unpredictable results. Same for 665 negs too coincidentally.

Getting them wetter makes them worse. The only process I've seen any level of success with is to dry as fast as possible in the field. Good luck! Skj.

[moominsean]

sometimes not worrying about drying them completely can be interesting, as well.

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[beck]

When goop says, it does and you do. It's the Boss.

[beck]

Drying in the field. What a nightmare. Driving in the car, you can lay out on the dashboard or back seat. Walking about, I've stuck them in pages of an old paperback. I've experimented with plastic sheets - no luck. I've been meaning to make a wax-paper folder but have not gone that far yet.

Like, Silly Putty...

[Phil Bebbington]

Sean, thank you for the link, I hadn't seen that before.  I think it should sort me good and proper!

Skorj, my apologies, I'm sure I knew that you used negatives, I really must pay more attention if I am to start a thread! I guess this isn't exactly the right time to develop a love for using 665 so I will have to content myself with Fuji and the odd rogue pack of Polaroid that turns up!

Sean and Beck, thank you for the great examples. It's always great to see your work.

[Skorj]

I guess this isn't exactly the right time to develop a love for using 665 so I will have to content myself with Fuji and the odd rogue pack of Polaroid that turns up!

Tell me about it! Love those messed up goops here for sure. A great medium when it works well like these do! Skj.

[Phil Bebbington]

I hope you have managed to stock pile a supply!?

[Skorj]

I hope you have managed to stock pile a supply!?

I did, but now down to three packs...

[Phil Bebbington]

Holy crap!

I'll see what I have here - if I have anything it is only a pack or two, but, you are welcome to it.

[LT]

I did, but now down to three packs...

does that mean the end of the skj-style?  that will be a sad day.

[Phil Bebbington]

Nicely put, Leon!

[beck]

I did, but now down to three packs...

does that mean the end of the skj-style?  that will be a sad day.

Indeedy. Skorji, Leon asks a good question. Inquiring minds want to know just what in the sam hell are you going to use next after the loot is gone? A few of my Polaroid pals are leaning towards large format photography and possibly building their own cameras and using sheet film keeping the tradition alive with horizontal style portrait shooting. Sigh...

I am down to 7 boxes of 665 myself...and that's all she wrote. Close the book. The end.

[pdewolff]

What i did was: i bought a cheap Tupperwarelike box, straws to drink from cans, fold 'm to square and use 'm as spacers between the goops, works great. The only damage you can make ( if its possible to "damage" a goop ) are the sides of it. One box is enough for 12 goopies !

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[moominsean]

very crafty! now you just need some glitter and muppet stickers (i say with a serious face). i could do something like this for my bento boxes.