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Old 5th May 2016, 10:27 PM
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B&W Neil B&W Neil is offline
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Location: West Cornwall
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A split back is essential if you want to inspect the exposure of an image (during the exposure) without disturbing the register of the negative to the paper.

With most of the alt processes that require a negative put into contact with a coated paper this achieved by taking the frame away from the source of UV (during the exposure) opening the split back, peeling a portion of the negative away from the paper and assessing the progress of the exposure. If the exposure is satisfactory the image taken and processed, if it requires more exposure the back is closed (the unopened part of the back keeps the neg in register on the paper) and given more exposure.

Split backs are quite easy to make and I have made several that work well.

Once you get experienced at judging the UV exposure, remembering that natural UV is different ever day and quite often changes during an exposure, you may not use a split back.

Using a UV lamp provides more control over exposure but a split back will still save you time and money.

Neil.
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