Pass on those useful little tips

[Brian]

I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread where members pass on those useful little tips that they've picked up over the years. I'll kick off:

Mamiya TLR Lenses have an incorporated shutter, but a little trick in testing the action of the shutter is to cock and fire it but to take the kick out of the action by holding it with your finger and then gently releasing it, if the shutter still fires then it's probably fine, if it sticks or hesitates then the shutter will need a service.


Brian

[Victor Krag]

One might consider making printing notes on the back of every print in pencil. I do this so that I can pick up any print in any box and see the notes that made that print and to reprint with relative ease (unless I changed enlarger bulbs). Pencil will not contaminate any chem and won't wash out. I just flip the print over on the easel so to write on a hard non-giving suface.

On top left margin I'll write::

NEG # (= Roll # - Frame #) or whatever system you use.
ENLGR LENS FSTOP (F11) / CONTRAST (45 M = 45cc Magenta)
OVERALL SECONDS ( 12 Sec)
- (MINUS IN SECONDS) DODGES AND AREA DESCRIPTION
+ 1ST BURN IN SECONDS AND DESCRIPTION
+ 2ND BURN IN SECONDS AND DESCRIPTION
+ SPOT BURN IN SECONDS AND AREA
Note: for consistency, any burn is the same contrast as noted at the top unless I change the contrast and I'll note that as "nil sign" (= O with line through it) for "no magenta" or Seconds / 100 Y (=100cc Yellow filter) or whichever filter used..

I also write in the middle top of back of print the date and print # of that same neg's print of that night.
example::

1/9/09 #3
ORF (Oriental Fiber) or MGIV (Ilford Mutli) or RC (Ilford Resin Coated)
105mm ( Enlgr lens)
P20 (Print dev)
1-7 (Dev dilution)

I write all this down AFTER I've made the print so that if I did make a mistake, I can still write the correct notes, for instance if I forgot a burn or didn't chnage the contrast..

Works for me!