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Hi - I am just about to start experimenting with oilprints.

This question is really for oil-prints, I cannot start with Bromoils as at present my darkroom is out of commission, The question of exposure for Bromoils is really just a matter of producing a reasonable print.

One thing I cannot seem to find on the 'net and in the couple of books I have on the subject (Bromoils and Oilprints) is how to judge the exposure.

Can you tell from examination of the matrix if exposure is good or do you have to go through the inking stage before you can tell if exposure is under or over.

I will expose using a Phillips facial tanning lamp - I used this last year for some Cyanotypes and got some reasonable results.

Any help with this problems would be most appreciated

Thanks in advance

nn

Hi nn - I can only answer this question as it relates to bromoil exposure, as I've never made any prints with oil prints in mind.

The exposure for bromoil is indeed made from first obtaining a "reasonable" print, as you've stated. But from there you want to deliberately over-expose for the matrix. A simple method, one endorsed by Gene Laughter, is once you've obtained that reasonable print, to think "one stop over, one grade under" when exposing for the matrix - allowing more light and using less filtration to ensure a well overexposed print.

Prior to the bleach/tan process you will have quite an unattractive print in front of you. Once you've bleached the print out to turn it into a proper matrix, I don't know of a way to judge the exposure; you want to rely on what you've already done.

Exposure by a tanning lamp will be pretty hit or miss, unless you've done some testing for the paper you want to use.

Good luck!
Terri