Thank you. Is there a general rule for dry down? Such as 1/2 a stop etc? I’m using F stop timing because it seems very logical to me and would make an easy adjustment.
The 10% is a rough estimate, but sort of a rule of thumb. That means if the exposure is 10 seconds, you drop it to 9. I think that equates to a fifth of a stop, but I'd have to get out my calculator to verify that. Some papers need more, some need less. The most I ever heard quoted is 15% and some claim some papers have none. It has probably been two decades since i thought about it though.
It is hard to tell until you learn what to look for, but you can do it. Look for any white that hits the edge of the print which of course is paper white. You want to look for the faintest tone at that line. And I mean faint. That will get you there pretty much. If you don't have an edge, flip a different print over and use the back of that next to what you want white. Prints tend to flatten as they dry too. Water adds contrast, so you should aim for a slightly contrastier print than you want. With experience you will just know what it looks like. You won't even have to think about it. By all means since you are starting out, make copious notes. Write everyting on the back of the print with a pencil. Then compare notes
as soon as the prints are dry. Learn learn learn. As long as you know what to look for, it won't take you long to find it. Once you learn a paper, you have it.
I never got into that f stop stuff. I knew the guy that invented it though. He never tried to convert me and I never questioned him. There is nothing wrong with printing that way, I just got used to another way. Whatever works! If your prints look good no ones cares how you got there! F stop printing is a logical way to do it though, so you are ahead of the game if you are learning it. Keep doing it.
Hope that helps you. Got any other questions feel free to ask.
Great Island, Cape Cod 2018.jpg by Chris Coppola, on Flickr
Andrea at Longnook.jpg by Chris Coppola, on Flickr
