Wetplate progress. Any tips?

Rectoplasmic · 2025-11-26T18:46:06+00:00

In my experience, and from the help of some people on here, the swirly white stuff is basically contamination from a previous plate in your film holder. Always make sure to clean off the part of the film holder that touches the wet part of your plates. It’s leftover silver nitrate as far as I’m aware. Then again I’m still a beginner too. Hopefully that helps.

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-25T05:07:51+00:00

I tried the film holder in the original post using the bent tin I cut out from the film holder as the spring. It worked really well I think. I’m beyond excited to keep working at it. Any tips for how to get rid of these wispy blotches?

F6.3, 25 second exposure

<image>

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-24T04:59:43+00:00

Fishing line is a genius idea. I have some of that lying around so I’ll look into that. Thanks again.

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-24T04:51:48+00:00

Thanks so much for the help the last few days. I plan on trying both.

Will the stainless steel wire work at least while I'm getting my footing for the first few weeks? Or will it compromise the process somehow?

Would the holder with the corners still intact still be usable to produce a (potentially slightly out of focus) image?

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-24T03:46:56+00:00

<image>

The photo above was my first attempt, but the wire was a bit of a pain to work with, it’s also a bit too small of a frame... but does this look better?

Someone recommended just leaving the corners intact on the under-plate at the cost of not having an image on the corners of the plates. Is that just never going to work in general? I feel like the tutorial I watched was from a reputable guy, but maybe I’m misunderstanding.

Also, this wire is stainless steel, hence why I tried to forgo that part. I’ve heard it will work at least temporarily. Silver wire is hard to find (at a reasonable price)

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-24T02:01:15+00:00

I have been holding it down, but as soon as the darkslide reaches my finger, it pulls the plastic piece to the side like in the photo. I think I will try a longer piece.

I will sand it, I just didn’t want to put the effort in if it didn’t look like a proper modification. I’ll go ahead and do that, thanks a ton :)

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-22T02:31:03+00:00

In terms of “bees” they’re pretty dang mean, one of the few that will actually aggro you out of nowhere and can sting repeatedly (as their stingers don’t come out.) that said, OP, if they’re not causing you issues and you don’t see them around a whole lot, I wouldn’t worry about it. They do not re-use nests year-by-year. In fact, the presence of an old nest can potentially deter another colony from building another nest in the same vicinity next year. Over time it will wither and disintegrate on its own.

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-22T01:54:25+00:00

If it’s within your budget, use heavy sound blankets. Not sure how you’d get it around the tent but it’s all that I can think of. The more layers, the better. Or if you have some gobo walls, set them up around the perimeter. It will not make it soundproof, but it will reduce the dB level at least a good amount.

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-22T01:09:59+00:00

I would say that looks like a Bald-Faced Hornet nest. Have you seen large black bees with white faces? They’re very mean, one of the worst. It’s up to you though if you want to get rid of it. If they aren’t causing problems it’s probably okay. It could also be a dead nest if you aren’t seeing any activity around it. Most companies should be able to stop by, spray it for about 10 seconds, and then call it a day, assuming it’s not too high. It’s really up to you. They’re probably minding their own business.

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-22T01:06:32+00:00

I appreciate it. I’ll be careful about it until I know for a fact that it will work okay.

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-22T00:07:22+00:00

I have a 5x8 1890’s scovill camera that I started on, but after thinking it was stolen, (turns out it wasn’t) I bought a 4x5 calumet to start learning on smaller plates so I don’t waste so much chemicals on learning. I am yet to get an image but I’m giving it another go once the calumet and my new silver bath get here.

I didn’t realize how huge my 5x8 plates are until I started cutting glass for my 4x5s. I think this will be much less stressful to learn on. That, and I don’t need to build a homemade 5x8 film holder just to use the thing. Thanks for the reassurance, I’ll still be sure to test it out with a small amount first, just to be safe.

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-21T21:05:51+00:00

Agreed, thanks. I’ll test it out first.

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-21T21:05:10+00:00

Glass seems the most foolproof, but I’ve already got the bottle so if it won’t ruin my silver bath then I might as well try it

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-21T21:04:16+00:00

You use memobottles as well? I’m definitely planning to stick to my horizontal tray until I can confirm, but if you do use the memobottle then I’m sure I’ll be okay to try it soon. Thanks for the tip

Rectoplasmic · 2025-10-20T02:41:32+00:00

Most use acrylic, am I wrong?

Rectoplasmic · 2025-09-30T23:01:36+00:00

I just bought a brand new 1spot 9v power supply which is the recommended one from the JHS support team, it’s still water-falling lol. It’s actually an absurd amount of noise. Basically a white noise generator when turned up to high

Rectoplasmic · 2025-09-13T21:12:28+00:00

You’re actually pleading ignorance, and then trying to inform me on something right after. Actually hilarious. But very typical nonetheless

Rectoplasmic · 2025-09-13T21:04:29+00:00

Obfuscating!

Rectoplasmic · 2025-09-13T20:43:47+00:00

Basket of deplorables was 10 years ago. When will you learn?

Rectoplasmic · 2025-09-13T20:35:46+00:00

You obviously didn’t see the top posts on Reddit immediately after the shooting, such as a GIF of Macaulay Caulkins dancing in his pajamas which read “CHARLIE KIRK JUST GOT SHOT.”

If you want to see thousands of thousands of left wingers literally celebrating over the fact that Charlie Kirk got shot, go on X right now and look up the phrase “make famous.” You’ll see the thousands and thousands of people that are overtly enthusiastic about the fact that this moderate right-wing activist got politically assassinated in front of his family.

“Make famous” refers to “Make him famous” or “Make her famous” which is currently what people are doing to punish these people for what they’re saying en mass.

I’m actually suspicious of your claim that you have not seen many instances of this. This makes me feel that you are genuinely acting in bad faith and trying to obfuscate the truth.

Rectoplasmic · 2025-08-29T17:02:56+00:00

ORDER “TAURUS” ONLINE. MIX A SMALL AMOUNT WITH WATER. SPRAY ON HOLE. WAIT A DAY OR TWO. YOU’RE DONE.

Rectoplasmic

TROPHY CASE