I tend to also choose negatives that are easy to print and don't require extensive burning and dodging. I like to keep it simple because I usually print all my postcards in one session. It's all the writing I do on the postcards that take all the time.
Mark, I select a negative that can be at worst requiring either a single dodge or burn, or at best a straight print.
My current selection which I printed a week ago in 58 minutes, is a single straight exposure.
For an easel, I use a piece of chip board. The flat chipboard has two pieces of timber nailed to two sides that are raised 5mm above the chipboard surface. I simply slide the paper into the corner, expose then change it quickly with the next one. This chipboard easel has paper sizes from postcard through to 12 x 16" marked in a ball point pen. I use this almost exclusively with RC paper. The base has four rubber feet attached, this stops it slipping on my enlarger baseboard
If I was making an easel today I would use MDF, as this material appears to have replaced chipboard, which was all the go 25 years ago when I whacked this easel up.
Like Kate, I find the time taken to hand write the addresses is a bit of a time thing. I tried to pull the file into Excel and print out address labels, but somehow it won't work for me. It's not an issue, I just do a few cards each evening until they are all done, mine will go out this week.
I would like to address the label making . I use Avery #5160 (30) labels.
Down load Avery printing wizard from there site. Then I go to Microsoft Word
call the wizard and start entering addresses. It takes about an hour for 50 labels.
Cheers Greg
__________________ Looking is a gift, but seeing is power.
Like Kate, I find the time taken to hand write the addresses is a bit of a time thing. I tried to pull the file into Excel and print out address labels, but somehow it won't work for me.
To pull the addresses into Excel I added the line notation to the PMs. You will have to copy that part of the PM into an Ascii text editor like notepad (not Word or other word processors). Then in Excel in the open dialog window choose that text file and Excel will realize that this is a plain text file and ask for separators (in this case use the semicolon as a separator). After that you will have all addresses as lines in an Excel table. How to proceed from there ... I do not know since I am not familiar with Excel.
I entered the address data into my address book on my Mac. From round to round I have to add fewer addresses because we have a good amount of regulars in the postcard exchange. The labels are then created via a serial letter which I combine with the address data in a word processor.
I know a good stamp maker in Australia and I will handwrite my cards as soon as I will do my postcards on FB paper and have my postcard stamp ready.
If you saw my handwriting, you'd understand why I don't handwrite my cards! I think I'll make a speed easel this winter. Thanks for the hint on bringing the file into notepad then into excel. I tried to paste it into word and use the label template with no luck. I'm always surprised how fast I can print the cards and how much time it takes to do all the other stuff......
Mark
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This is my first experience in any sort of "print exchange". When sign-up time came I could not contain my enthusiasm. I have sent my postcards out, and have begun receiving some. This is such a cool experience! I look forward to seeing more wonderful images.
In all the years I have used Ilford postcard stock I have never seen it damaged in the mail. The first example of this is the card I received from Randall M. A very nice image of the "regular world around us" with as big white mark in the middle of the print. It is obvious that the card had been abraded by something when in the mail.
... In all the years I have used Ilford postcard stock I have never seen it damaged in the mail. The first example of this is the card I received from Randall M. A very nice image of the "regular world around us" with as big white mark in the middle of the print. It is obvious that the card had been abraded by something when in the mail.
Well, I receive a lot of cards which look somehow worn after their travel from overseas. That is bad for the picture but in some sense makes the cards also more interesting because it contributes to the feel about how far the card is coming from. So in my opinion this is also a bit of the fun. And this is the reason why I send my own card to myself via the post office. It is more authentic
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