We'll be leaving the end of the week to visit my Mother in law in
Florida for a few days.  On the way back, we're taking extra days to
see the sights, including camera stores.  So, O'm looking for
suggestions on stores to visit.

I have been cutting 11x14 mats, in which I will tape in a standard
photo, (non ink jet)8x10 print, but
the photo will not be centered in the mat, because I have a cut-out
for an info plate

I am fairly new to photography and darkroom equipment, and am studying
it at night school - so at the moment I don't know much about darkroom
equipment, although I am learning.  I have been offered the following
equipment for £150 (UK Pounds) from someone who I have just bought a

Kodak recomends Xtol  at FS for 6.75 min @ 68F. What would be used at
1:1? All I need is a starting point.
I am using the HP Combi tank that I purchased a few years ago. Then I
was using D76 but have a large supply of Xtol.

I am moving to bigger digs and get the chance to make a lot of improvements
in my setup that will undoubtedly cause me to create perfect negatives and
prints to be admired and loved for centuries...or eliminate some of the
challenges that I have.

I just set up a temporary darkroom.  
Boy, ho, boy ,oh boy is the Thomas sodium safelight nice to work with.
As is the forty year old Beseler 23C.
I found some dektol stock that I had mixed over four years ago with

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2987836359&category=29985&ssp
agename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1
Is it the real thing?
Sir Richard, can you help?

Can someone tell me what dry mounting tissue is for and why?

What is the difference betwee professional Tmax100 and Tmax 100
professional film?
I am using 4x5 and notice that the developing time has changed. Is
this the same for 120 film. I have some older film that has been

Are there any inexpensive sources for sodium metaborate?
-Lew

Pinakryptol dye was/is a desensitizing agent that allowed
film to be inspection developed under an OA(?) safelight.
I know it comes in green, yellow and white - with the yellow
and white preferred these days.

I have been dev. HP5+ (120mm) in liquid Pyro from Photog. Form. What signs
should I look for in the neg's to see if they are 1] over-developed, or 2]
under-developed? I used the start times and processing rec's.  in my "Book
of Pyro" to begin.

Ok, now that LF is taking my free time it's time to get
contact printing (& enlarging as well) done right.  
Or at least to understand it more fully.
So, let's pursue 8x10 contact printing for now.

http://www.colba.net/~fotochem/index.htm  for sodium metaborate

With all the talk of darkroom ventilation, air scrubbers came to mind.
I've been reminded of those who turn on the shower to clear the air.
At www.safelab.com click on, technical resources.                 Dan