I used steel but the contrast is poor and the image dark? When you do "tin&

Question: I used steel but the contrast is poor and the image dark!? When you do "tin"types what metal do you like to use!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Tintypes were done on black enameled iron If you are doing them you know its a wet plate process!. So the exposure has to be made within just a few moments of taking the plate out of the emulsion bath!. Its not uncommon for them to take different exposures and still have a darker look then modern emulsions give You may also be leaving them in the silver salt bath too long ( it only stays in about 5 minutes!. !. Remember tyntypes like ambrotype are basically a negative but because of the black background appear positive!. So as I recall the longer the exposure the denser the negative!. I!. Classic exposures were between 5 to 10 seconds but I do not know what equipment you are using!. Using steel that is not enameled would definitely change things and if the metal were caoted with anything like zinc used in galvanized steel that could really mess up your chemistry and image also!. was told you could scratch some of the collagen emulsion off to increase contrast but I have never tried it!. Remember the image really does not come up until the KCN bath!. You apply varnish over them to make them have a harder surface for longer life!.

I did them years ago in class but I have the recipe for the emulsion we used if you need it!. Developing times were really short as I recall!.

Rockland makes kits with the plates and the chemicals!. But I do not think they are true tintypes as I do not think they are a wet plate process
http://www!.rockaloid!.com/products!.html

A couple of books you may want to look at on these processes
http://www!.amazon!.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0!.!.!.
http://www!.amazon!.com/Book-Alternative-P!.!.!.

Added: I just found a site from John Coffer where he does workshops on these !. He also has manuals and DVDs on it
http://www!.johncoffer!.com/
An interesting NAtl Georgraphic video on them is here
http://ngm!.nationalgeographic!.com/ngm/be!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

yikes!.!.!."tin types"!? You're definitely WAY more advanced than me if you're doing that! So how do you do that, do you just coat your own emulsion!?

I HIGHLY doubt you'll get very many (if any) useful replies here!.

I would suggest asking this on Photo!.net or APUG!.org!. Actually APUG would probably be your best bet!. They have entire forums devoted to coating homemade plates!. I even saw one topic about a guy that is making his own film!Www@QuestionHome@Com