UPDATED: Saturday, 29 May, 2010 10:53

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

FREE ADVISORY SERVICE

The rules for the free advice are:-

• Members pay for their telephone call at normal rates. This is definitely NOT a charge call line. Low priced calls from the UK to Spain are available per message following. There is also: SKYPE online and MSN Messenger, for audio and/or video-audio - but you will need to e-mail first to be added to our Contacts list - please ensure you put ZPS Membership in subject line.

• Members can call at any time and of course, potential members are also welcome to call if wishing to clarify anything about membership

• Advice can only normally be obtained when Brian is at home, of course, so there will be some periods when he could be on holiday or out for the day. However, the e-mail advice service is always available, so:-

• Queries can be sent via e-mail, which are normally collected several times each day and evening - or at least twice a week if away.

• E-mail queries MUST either be as short as possible, or enable short replies to be given. If attaching, for example, an image file (small jpegs please!) send prior e-mail as warning because attachments are normally deleted by our anti-virus security programme

• Queries by letter should be accompanied by appropriate return postage (in Euros if possible or UK notes accepted) if prints, negatives or transparencies are being sent in connection with the query. In such cases, members will need to telephone to discuss their query after allowing a few days for their letter and prints/negs/etc. to arrive. This procedure is obviously helpful when a member needs us to look at samples to help solve any problem. Letters alone will be answered without charge of postage for the reply.

• If any member wishes to send prints for evaluation or assessment or comment, this does incur a small charge, of just £2.00 for the first item plus 50p per additional item; in such cases, return postage is also to be provided. We suggest sending a blank audio cassette as it is usually more helpful for verbal comments to be made, rather than written remarks. However, in no circumstances should any comments be recorded by the member on an audio cassette - comments must themselves be in writing as in the past, a number of well-meaning members recorded their information, often in a rambling dialogue that went on and on and time - a very precious commodity - was spent listening and making notes to extract what was required.

• Queries can be on photographic topics and techniques, including Conventional and Digital and related Computing matters. We do not have access to equipment to undertake equipment reviews as such but will generally advise in the form of asking pertinent questions to help the member resolve any problems as regards use or selection of equipment. We do not pretend to know everything about every make of computer equipment but are usually able to help solve problems or point the member in the right direction. In the same way, we can often help with general computing problems, so why not give us your first shot - it is free for members, unlike most help lines at premium rates!

• Well, there is a brief outline of what help we are always prepared to offer members. And it's all part of the service. Fantastic!

• In addition, members with Internet connection receive e-mailouts with specific news items, advice and so forth

NEWSLETTERS

Production is totally dependent on the work of the Society's founder, Brian Allen, they have inclined to be "occasional" rather than completely regular in appearance in the past - and Brian makes no apology for that, either, so there! Yah, Boo! As there is also now a Messaging Forum only for members of the Society, this provides the necessary active updating media between Newsletters, of which there is a minimum of three per annum, with additional Technical Information Leaflets (TILs) on both conventional and digital topics. There is also the FREE advisory service, available at all times! In addition, members with internet facilities receive regular e-mailouts on various news and technical topics and TILs are updated and added-to regularly, all accessible in printer-friendly format

Because of the need to fully research topics for Newsletter in-depth articles, they are produced on the basis of "when possible". Each edition - usually three each year - requires around a minimum of a full week's work, equivalent in time to around 16 hours per day, to give some idea of time involvement.

Newsletters are posted online in text format (including recent back editions) in addition to their printed versions. This is to ensure they can always be used for reference, should the original printed version have been lost.

Newsletters are not lavish, glossy productions but A4 sheets, originated via computer and laser printer then stapled together. In essence, apart from disseminating Society information, they contain any submitted FREE advertisements FOR SALE-EXCHANGE-WANTED by members and usually one major in-depth article on a topic suggested by members, carefully researched by Brian to ensure the information is correct. In addition, useful snippets are included in the NL, perhaps simple, short answers to queries and Newsletters are usually accompanied by loose Technical Information Leaflets giving specific details of photographic topics and/or processes for reference filing by members for future use.

The simple Newsletter production method enables members to punch and file them in ring binders for easy reference.

There is an online Members Gallery, with individual galleries for those members wishing to participate yet have their own space, being currently 22MB per participating member.

There is usually at least one page containing some pictures, output via the laser or inkjet printer. Not fantastic photo quality but at least within the production costs that come from the members' subscriptions, which also have to cover all other expenses involved in running the Society.

Thanks to members, there are occasional Indexes which enable easy reference to past editions and new members can order back copies, at just the production cost involved plus postage, if they see topics that interest them, although the text can always be printed as in printer-friendly format on the Forum.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION LEAFLETS (Known as TILs)

 

Originally in the form of instruction sheets to accompany the Specialist Products and Kits, first produced under the "Bictonol" trademark in Devon.

Brian's idea of including Technical Information Leaflets as loose sheets with the Newsletters - many with "step-by-step" instructions - on a variety of topics and techniques proved very popular with members.

As an example, two sheets covered processing of Black and White films in Kodak's HC-110 film developer; one for inversion agitation in small tanks and the second for rotary processing in Jobo tanks. These gave progressive timing instructions, with what to do and when to do it, so anyone could use them to ensure repeatable processing, every time.

They were also, in effect, the basis of scripts for the popular Audio Cassettes on processing, which audibly (well, they would, wouldn't they!) spoke instructions as to what and when to do it. These Audio Cassettes covered B+W film processing, using HC-110, B+W film processing using Brian's own unique Two-Bath Film Developer (available as a kit), processing of E6 Colour Reversal Films in popular commercial amateur kits (with full information on how to use kits economically on a one-shot basis) plus other cassettes on Enlarging Timing, Cibachrome (now Ilfochrome Classic) and the like. These audio instructions included lots of helpful hints and tips, with check lists for setting-up before processing.

Another example of a Technical Information Leaflet topic is Safe Practices in the Darkroom. Currently there are topics including computing related to digital imaging. A list is shown at the bottom of this section.

Copies of previously issued Technical Information Leaflets are obtainable by members only at a cost to cover their production and postage and are downloadable for free in printer-friendly format on the Members Forum. The TILs are now only available to Members via their own Forum and are regularly updated as appropriate and new ones created.

Here is a copy of the TILs links page (all links deactivated as only for members) : (There are now over 53 new TILs and many revisions - also ongoing)

Note - all are in Printer-Friendly format so you can print directly without downloading first. If YOU have any suggestions regarding topics, please e-mail me.

• 1) MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

• 2) DISTINCTIONS

• 3) KITS & PRODUCTS - Totally Revised 27/6/2006

• 4) PRINT SIZING (Up and Down) for Printing - NEW - Posted 15/7/2006

• 5) CLOSE-UPS USING FLASH

• 6) WASHING COLOUR FILMS

• 7) UPRATING AND DEVELOPMENT CHANGES

• 8) SELF ANALYSIS

• 9) BLEACHING & REDEVELOPING PRINTS

• 10) CONTACT PRINTING

• 11) BASIC 5"X4" MOVEMENTS

• 12) DRY MOUNTING TIPS

• 13) MIXING KITS

• 14) E6 PROCESSING

• 15) SELECTING 35mm OUTFIT

• 16) DEALING WITH BLOCKED SHADOWS ON ART PAPER - I have also put above a link re: Shadow Control programme

• 17) PROTECTION: VIRUSES & HACKERS ON INTERNET - Totally Revised 27/6/2006

• 18) BE A BETTER FLASHER!

• 19) COMPUTER SETUP (under revision)

• 20) COMPUTER SPECIFICATION - revised 5/6/2007

• 21) B&W FILM PROCESSING

• 22) 35mm & OTHER CAMERA FORMATS BASIC FUNCTIONS

• 23) EPSON SCANNERS & PRINTERS - TROUBLESHOOTING + INKS

• 24) DIGITAL CAMERAS - Latest update article

• 25) POP3 E-MAIL & ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAMME PROBLEMS PLUS NEW FREE AUTO MEMORY MANAGER

• 26) YOUR COMPUTER & WINDOWS

• 27) SUBMITTING B+W BOOK IMAGES

• 28) EXPOSURE METERING METHODS

• 29) SIGMA SD9 USERS - includes useful advice for everyone

• 30) PARTITION MAGIC

• 31) INKS & MEDIA

• 32) NEW PBASE GALLERY - Instructions on preparing and uploading images - Revised 19/6/2006 with important additional notes regarding personal gallery space usage

• 33) POWERSTRIP

• 34) GOOGLEMAIL - Settings, etc. - posted 7/11/2006

• 35) SELF-ANALYSIS & MALCOLM FISHWICK

• 36) STABILISING TRIPODS

• 37) TUITION & ACCOMMODATION in SPAIN - UPDATED 23/3/2007 with calendar link and has Spanish Address and Telephone details

• CLICK HERE fFor NEW Calendar of Trabuco Visitor Bookings (UPDATED 23/3/2007)

• 38) SHARPENING & OTHER ACTIONS

• 39) BLUE & OTHER ADJUSTMENTS - a short illustration of various ways to adjust for blue haze - as requested by member Jim Flavin

• 40) CONTINUOUS INKING SYSTEMS - SPECIAL UPDATE posted 22/1/2007

• 41) IMAGE & DATA FILES - BACKING-UP - Posted 17/3/2006

• 42) SENSOR CLEANING in DSLRs - Posted 24/3/2006, finalised 25/3/2006 with illustrations, extra notes and links

• 43) PHOTOSHOP TIPS - Updated 21/1/2007

• 44) CAPSLOCKOFF - Posted 2/12/2006 - includes zip file to install

• 45) FILM RETRIEVAL - Posted 6/4/2007 - includes how to use short lengths

• 46) PAYPAL AND BUTTONS - Posted 8/8/2007

• 47) A BETTER FILE MANAGER FOR WINDOWS - Posted 21/8/2007

• 48) PRINTER AUTO PURGE - Posted 29/11/2007

  (More TILs have since been added)

MEMBERS FORUM

There is a Members-Only FORUM, which carries announcements of news items and events for members

It also has a list of available, regularly updated, Technical Information Leaflets (TILs) on a wide variety of Photographic conventional and digital imaging techniques plus on associated computing matters. All are additionally available in Printer-Friendly Format for easy printing and/or downloading for reference purposes

Additionally, there are other links for recommended Utility programmes and one for the Members Messaging Area, based on a GuestBook format, for the exchange of information, queries/answers and so forth

Another link connects to the Members pBase Gallery

Whilst non-members can gain access to view the Gallery images by members, only members can post images

The Forum enables members to have access to restricted information and specialist articles and advice