Image transfer of very old pictures

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I'm just getting into image transfers after falling in love with what I saw in an art gallery in Carmel CA. What I saw seem to be image transfers of very old photographs. I figured, I have boxes full of old photos I've collected over the years. Now after buying a few books and reading on here I have to say I'm more confused. I guess I have two questions. 1) What do I need, as in, the best camera set-up to achieve the best results. and 2) what’s the best way to accomplish what I want to do. Do I need a copy stand or an enlarger? HELP!!! PLEASE!!!!

-- Brian D (mrsiliconvalley@hotmail.com), June 04, 2001

Answers

You can copy your photos to slide film using a SLR camera mounted on a tripod and a medium telephot (I use an 100mm). Lay the picture flat on a table. Light the pictures putting two equal color corrected tungsteen lamps (you get those at photo shops) at 45 degrees to the table in opposite sides. If money is not a problem, a copystand would be easier to use. If they are b&w pictures you'd probably get better results with a b&w slide film but you can experience with a color film and see if you like the results. Fuji Velvia, Sensia and Provia are excelent color positive films. Agpha has a very good b&w slide film but ask your lab first since the process to develop it is not the common E6.

After having the slides you have several options to transfer them to polaroid films. The films ending in 9 are suited for the process, 669 being the easiest one to work with. The easiest way would be getting a vivitar or daylab slide printer. The vivitar is not being produced anymore, so you can only get it at ebay or with luck, at a garage sale. The Daylab comes in two versions, Daylab35 that prints in 669 film and Daylab 35+ that has interchangeble backs for different film sies up to 8x10. Mind the price of the 8x10 film if you choose this path :) I use the Daylab35 for 669 film and have a polaroid fiml holder for 59 film. I use the holder with my enlarger to produce 4x5 prints. You can get lots of technical detail by going to a workshop or reading a good book. I recommend Carr's book. It has step by step instructions and lots of information on what paper to choose, using colored pencils and pastels to enhance the transfers, etc. I posted the URL for the book bellow. It's impressive how much you learn by reading this book and doing. Lots of frustration in the beggining, but rewarding results after a while. Have fun!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/081745554X/qid=992976040/sr=1- 6/ref=sc_b_6/104-8266880-5630348

-- Herbet Camerino (herbetb@yahoo.com), June 19, 2001.


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