Digital BW, The Print

Roger and all,

The prints from Mpix.com can be bleached and redeveloped in a lith developer.  While 
not a "true" lith print is made, redeveloping in lith will introduce lith type effects on 
the print.  My prints acheived a split tone, stretching from purple to pink, in the 
midtone and highlight areas while the darker tones remained neutral.  The creative 
possibilities are endless, and this gives an excellent look to portraiture.

As I had no lith chemisty available but plenty of gumption, I bleached the print in 
standard septia toner to about 75% completion.  I used crystal drano (Sodium 
Hydroxide) as the catalyst for the lith effect.  I added 1-1/2 tablespoons to 1 liter of 
water with 10 milliters of Sprint Film Developer.  The print redeveloped slowly, then 
quickly started to change colors - when the print looked right it was snatched from 
the developer and quickly dropped into stop bath and given a complete wash 
sequence.

I did try paper developer in a standard working dilution, but the developer was much 
too active to achieve a lith effect.  It worked perfectly with very dilute film developer 
with a larger amount of NaOH.  I am beginning to see the possibilities of this hybrid 
digital/silver process and am very excited.  That and no banding!

Don



> I'd also like to hear the details about the Lith redevelopment process. 
>   Please tell all Don.  This is a Digital Black and White list.  IMHO it 
> sounds like this process is at least half digital, I'd think it's close 
> enough to desired topic to be shared with the list.  Thanks, so much.
> 
> Roger Smith, East Lansing, MI