Darkroom Prints...

MindofMel

MindofMel

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Hi all,

toying with the idea of investing in some darkroom stuff and making my own prints - partially, just to learn about the whole process. Thing is; I don't actually know why else? :wacky: I am going to end up scanning the prints in as i do my negatives now anyway... Do you only do the frames you think are winners?

So, essentially - why do you / have you made prints of your negs on a consistent basis?
 
Yes, basically contact print a roll of film and then choose which one I want to print, or scan the roll and then choose.
I have just started making prints myself and I love it, in fact just finished some 12 x 16 prints and they are drying now, 3 of them are spoken for, Ill keep one and then I'll see about the last one.

Mart
 
I contact print or scan the roll and evaluate any potential prints. Then I only print those.

Much as the convenience of Digitising your prints is nice, sometimes it's nice to have a print up on the wall and know that you have made every decision in it's making or that it has remained completely analogue.
 
i print my own so that i can look at them without turning on a computer ,and its easier to hang a frame on the wall than it is a screen . and i think you would get better results scanning from a neg than a print
 
donutagain said:
i print my own so that i can look at them without turning on a computer ,and its easier to hang a frame on the wall than it is a screen . and i think you would get better results scanning from a neg than a print
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+1
 
mothdust said:
I'd love to get some of my negs printed up, but have nowhere to do them! This one in particular: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bombsandmonitors/6170405664/in/set-72157627722461896

I'd only print the cream of the crop (not many then haha), but it'd be a nice source of pride to have a photo of mine on the wall :)
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You could try Photofusion in Brixton (not too far from you) or Four Corners up in Bethnal Green.

Used to use Four Corners Darkroom for over a year - Dave Than there is a top guy, very helpful and knowledgeable about the whole print process. Edit: they provide all the chemicals - all you need to do is turn up with your film (processed or not) and some paper. It is very satisfying to have taken a pic, developed it and then enlarged it. :)
 
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robhooley167 said:
Cibachrome or Ilfochrome, both sadly discontinued
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I found this out after aksing the question in this thread, it has made me sad as I have some slides I would love to print the traditional way. Who knows, it might have a revival.

On a side not, should be booking myself onto a course at four corners to learn the process of B&W printing :D
 
Sectionate said:
I found this out after aksing the question in this thread, it has made me sad as I have some slides I would love to print the traditional way. Who knows, it might have a revival.

On a side not, should be booking myself onto a course at four corners to learn the process of B&W printing :D
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Have fun and say hi to Dave if he's still around!
 
It's an incredibly complex subject, and it's probably best to start off gently producing some B&W prints - you'll soon find out how hard it is just to do that, get that understood, colour printing will be more understandable (not least how much more complex it is!).

As a point of information, slide films are "positive" (not negative), and as such need totally different colour printing paper from that used to print colour negatives (C41) - which is again very different from B&W printing paper

For someone wanting to "dip a toe in the water", you can probably pick up a whole simple enlarger and kit at a boot fair for a few quid - buy some new paper and chemicals, black out the bathroom or the understairs cupboard, and away ye go (it's how I learnt!)
 
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MindofMel said:
Damnit Youtube - I'm really itching to buy the kit to do this.

In relative opinions could wet printing work out cheaper than a decent A3 BW printer + inks? in the long run. #howlongisapieceofstring
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Yes

6x6 enlargers are quite cheap, paper isnt "cheap" but it's not prohibitively expensive, just depends what size you want to print at, at the time. The chemicals for a big printing session are quite cheap, i've managed 20 odd 8x10s from a 1.5L batch of chemicals.
 
Depends how much you want to fine tune as well - you could easily spend all day dodging, burning and split grade printing one single negative if you really wanted to.
 
Largest i would probably print in any real frequency is 16"-20" square but more regularly smaller than that; anything larger probably go to a lab? Just need to do research into what enlarger's are suitable etc now. Any recommendations for brands etc? Also notice, you can get different focal length lenses?
 
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MindofMel said:
Largest i would probably print in any real frequency is 16"-20" square but more regularly smaller than that; anything larger probably go to a lab? Just need to do research into what enlarger's are suitable etc now. Any recommendations for brands etc? Also notice, you can get different focal length lenses?
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The different focal lengths are for different formats, for 6x6 i think you need a 75 or 80mm lens (i use 80mm for 6x7 and have no vignetting)

Brands: Durst have a pretty solid reputation as do LPL. I use a Durst M670 which prints up to 6x7cm negatives, it's not missed a trick as far as i'm concerned. Make sure you look at multigrade or colour heads (for contrast adjustments)
 
You will probably spend more on a decent easel capable of 16x20 printing (probably a 20x24 size easel) than you will on the rest of the darkroom equipment. A decent easel is as important as a decent lens in my experience.
 
Kev M said:
You will probably spend more on a decent easel capable of 16x20 printing (probably a 20x24 size easel) than you will on the rest of the darkroom equipment. A decent easel is as important as a decent lens in my experience.
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Another bit of good advice (y)
 
Kev M said:
You will probably spend more on a decent easel capable of 16x20 printing (probably a 20x24 size easel) than you will on the rest of the darkroom equipment. A decent easel is as important as a decent lens in my experience.
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Why are decent easels so expensive?

Surely their only purpose is holding paper flat in place....so no complicated mechanics or anything.

I don't understand how I can buy a great quality second hand enlarger with a good lens on ebay for less than the price of an easel....makes no sense to me.
 
Tell me about it, I'm looking for a 20 x 24 easel and I'm not spending a grand on one.
Might have to make a vucuum mount instead.

Mart
 
Steve said:
Why are decent easels so expensive?

Surely their only purpose is holding paper flat in place....so no complicated mechanics or anything.

I don't understand how I can buy a great quality second hand enlarger with a good lens on ebay for less than the price of an easel....makes no sense to me.
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The easels deal with cropping and forming borders too, many of them have 4 movable blades to work from many sizes of paper.
 
Marvin d martian said:
Tell me about it, I'm looking for a 20 x 24 easel and I'm not spending a grand on one.
Might have to make a vacuum mount instead.

Mart
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It is some how easier to use an easel.
There was a time when I would need to make several hundred enlargements a day, some times singles and some time multiples of the same negative.

A decent frame serves many purposes.
  • It provides a standard sized border on a set of prints
  • It aids composition.
  • it aids the making of non standard sizes
  • It provides a accurate fixed position when making multiple prints.
  • It provides a flat positionable surface.
  • It speeds up the whole process.

Many, even expensive frames, are inaccurate and out of square, Only very few allow the Blades to be re-trued.

Thousands of professional frames have been thrown away. There must be thousands more looking for a good home.

Some of the best large frames include a vacuum surface. others use a semi-adhesive surface.
 
The reasons for a decent easel have pretty much been covered. Trust me, buy cheap buy twice. I can't stress how infuriating it is when you can't get square edges or straight edges.

They don't have to cost thousands though. I got a massive RRB easel from Ebay for less than £100 and it is a quality piece of kit.
 
i dont use an easel ,,,but then not having borders dosen't bother me
 
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