Topic: goop

[beck]

I am in a bind. No, not from left overs from turkey day...but wondering what the heck I can do for a really nice output using the goop side of 667 type film. It seems a waste to just have these sit in the drawer and collect dust. And scanning these and showing them is just not enough. While I don't have a printer of any kind...I am thinking something could be made from them with say, a alternative touch or technique. I love the lith look and would love to make prints of these goops using that or some method or application. I suppose a digital negative would be a start...or something, but that is easier said than done on my end....beings that I don't have a negative to play with.

Any thoughts would greatly be appreciated....thanks.



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[seekingfocus]

Well, I think you're quite right about the potential in these.

I think other than an inkjet print, getting a digital negative done is the only other option. That might give you great creative options in the end. You can buy films to print onto to create a negative for use in the darkroom, though since you don't have a printer I suppose that's out of the question as would be an inkjet. I know there are services available to make negatives from digital files, though they may be a bit costly... perhaps if you're only looking to make a couple you could borrow a friend's printer? Or, if it's going to be a bit more in depth, perhaps it's worth procuring one yourself.

-Jason

[beck]

Yes, probably more logical to make the negatives and go from there. Which, I am not sure how to do but can try and learn through online guides and such. Or, what might even be best is to purchase the 665 type film and re-shoot what I've done so far and use the negatives. I have my sights on some. I am hooked on this Polaroid pinhole camera and would like to work with it more. However, I am not certain that the 665 ISO80 is ideal for this camera or outside usage...maybe so seeing that the 664 is at ISO100 and was recommended by my friend who made it...and probably best for both bright sun and shade. I am moving off topic I know...things to do...things to learn.

Can I get a decent printer for under $500? And what type paper would be ideal for such work? Sigh...

[seekingfocus]

An Epson r2400 goes for about that on eBay. At times you can find them slightly cheaper. It is a very good printer, and makes some beautiful photos... the r1800 goes for a bit less I believe, but if you can afford it go with the 2400.

Paper? It's up to you, there are so many! Just depends on personal taste really.

And to make a digital negative is not so hard: Make a clean, high resolution scan. Open in photoshop, and go to Edit->Inverse (Control+I). Then open the levels command Image -> Adjustments -> Levels or Control+L) and change output to about 20 on the white side and 200-230 or so on the dark side to compress the tonal range a bit and allow for what will print for processes like lith prints, cyanotypes, etc. That's it! Make a nice print on transparency, and you can use to contact print in the darkroom!

Hope that gets you started.

-Jason

[LT]

If you dont get what you want from here, you might want to pop over to  www.hybridphoto.com and pose your question there.  Lots of people very experienced in turning all sorts of image media into either silver or ink-spurt negs then printing on all manner of things.

Great pic by the way - hope all is well on Planet Beck?

[astrobeck]

I am not certain that the 665 ISO80 is ideal for this camera or outside usage...maybe so seeing that the 664 is at ISO100 and was recommended by my friend who made it...and probably best for both bright sun and shade. I am moving off topic I know...things to do...things to learn.

Hey Beck, I've been using the ISO 80 in my pinhole Polaroid with great results.
Don't forget to factor in the reciprocity when you're shooting.
I just ordered more today for the holly days ahead since this stuff is so addictive!

Great shot BTW!!!
 
astro

[Francois]

Can I get a decent printer for under $500? And what type paper would be ideal for such work? Sigh...

Depends on the paper size you plan on using.
If you check the mail-in rebates on the manufacturer's websites and the end of line liquidations, you're sure to find what you're looking for!

I know a friend who got good deals at Tiger Direct

HP printers can be had for cheap in the letter size (under 100$) (Large format start at 259$)
Their Vivera inks will last over 80 years, which is plenty.

Multi function deals can also do quick enlargements without even using your computer...

[rdbkorn]

Polaroid discontinued peel-apart pos/neg films, including 665. So it will probably be very difficult to find some, if not impossible. It's possible to find expired 665 on eBay sometimes, but at a cost of $4 or so per exposure.

On the other hand, there's much fun to be had printing out inkjet negatives and doing contact printing. I think your goop images would suit a number of alternative process printing processes.

[Ed Wenn]

Beck for a fun, low-end (in our snobby world) way of getting that goop onto a print why not just scan 'em and then use an online printing facility to get them turned into decent prints. Just because thy're set up for the digital hordes doesn't mean that you can't use them for scanned images. I do all the time and it's cool.

I use bonusprint.com, but there are loads of others. I think Shutterfly is still around and HP has one too called....erm, something (I should know this, seeing as how I work for HP, but the name escapes me at present).

From what I remember you're still using dial up not broadband, right? So it'll take a while to upload a high res images, but you'll be fine if you stick to a reasonably uncompressed JPG at 150dpi or 72dpi. Depending on the image size you want to print (Bonusprint go pretty big). The best thing is the prices are super cheap per print and turnaround is fast; Bonusprint get orders back to me within 2 working days.

Like I said at the start; not a high end option, but definitely worth considering for most things this side of an exhibition or a portfolio.

[Francois]

Or if you want to go the el-cheapo route like I do, you can always put the image on a USB key and get it printed at the grocery store (mine has a top of the line Fuji Frontier machine) or get very large format prints done at Staples (mine has a HP inkjet printer, they charge per linear inch).

The grocery store has a big advantage: 1 hour printjobs on Crystal Archive paper or 30 seconds on the instant Kodak machine.

[beck]

Ed, I was dangling my carrot along the lines of your comments and have an account with Shutterfly as I've had several books made up by them and liked the final product. Will keep them in mind.

And thanks everyone else too for your responses and will look over each one again. I've looked at a R1800 at about $400 or so. Lots to consider here. Thanks for those tid bits of information.

Francois, I do have one of those gadgets and used one in such a case for other work at my local lab but wasn't too happy with the final product as they don't have much software for editing, even though I would ask for none, and they only offer two types of paper, glossy and matte on the Fuji crystal archive. Perhaps if I bought my own paper, the type I would think best for the job, Staples or some other print shot would do better...then I can do some mangling with them by adding to them with stains and so on. Probably not a good idea, but you know me by now. Again, lots to consider...

Thanks again folks...

Leon, everything is really peachy on planet beck and getting better much to my surprise. Lovely of you to ask. Cheers...

[Skorj]

Sooo many options! If you lived in Japan, we could add a few more too. Seems your scanner has the right goods, and from there the options would be to either print from removal media at a lab, or print yourself with a reasonable printer?

My only tip would be to scan your goop in the highest res possible, and to archive a copy as goop resolution and detail often decays with time and exposure to light. You can fix a little with Type-665 sticks, but these add mess to the surface though too. We should have a separate conversation about Type-665 and pinholes too (let's start with your pinhole's f-stop?).

Regardless, this is great work, and it deserves a better life and exposure than the soot bunnies in your drawers.