i was wondering if anyone has heard of solarizing your film. it's very easy to do with paper i know but i was wondering because today me and this kid were talking about it in photography class. he said that you can solarize your film which seems believeable but i just don't know how you would go about doing this. anyone ever tried this? thanks -derek

-- derek (dereks_domain@hotmail.com), April 28, 2000

Answers

Most of Man Ray's solarizations were of film, not paper. Film is solarized the same way as paper--by exposing it to light during development. Roll film solarization can be problematic, but sheet film solarization is relatively easy. However, Ronald Spillman, in his book 'Darkroom Techniques' (Fountain Press, England, 1974) gives the following instructions for roll film: "...develop for half the recommended time, remove the film from the spiral, and expose it evenly to the light from a 60 w. opal bulb at a distance of six feet. Then continue developing for the remainder of the period. As water droplets may act as uneven magnifiers, the careful worker will wipe down the film gently before exposing (do not use a film wiper at this unhardened stage), or rinse in the tank, following with a bath of water into which a few drops of wetting agent have been introduced, before removing the film from the tank. It may then hang to drain for half a minute before flashing. The film can then be reloaded..." Flashing time recommendations: 25-50 ISO at 6 sec., 100-160 ISO at 2 sec., and 400 ISO at 1 sec. Adjust as necessary.

-- (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), April 29, 2000.

Ed

I think it was your site that linked me to a very comprehensive article on solarisation. Am I wrong?

-- Thomas Wollstein (thomas_wollstein@web.de), May 02, 2000.

I have a long article on print solarization, plus some links, but I'm not aware of much information out there regarding solarizing film.

-- (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), May 02, 2000.