A beginner writes

[VincentT]

Good evening (good afternoon for those in the US and good morning for those far to the east).

I have been a darkroom user for 40 years and as I am more time poor than ever, I find it impossible to set a whole day aside to enjoy my darkroom. I have decided to try my hand at scanning and printing large format negatives. Just so as you know I have little interest in alternative processes so do not intend to make digital negatives and contact print them.

I am prepared to invest a reasonably substantial amount of money into this and would welcome suggestions on printers. I intend to scan monochrome and as I am fussy about quality believe I will need a printer that will take a number of shades of grey and black. The problem is, I have "resisted" digital for so long I know nothing about the subject. I intend to do a significant amount of research before parting with my hard earned cash but always welcome advice, suggestions and insights from established users. I believe I am going to acquire an Epson V800 scanner for the scanning part of the process.

And, in a shameless plug, if there is anyone in the UK that would like to acquire a fairly high end darkroom (including Durst Laborator 1200 enlarger) just mention that as well in any reply.

Many thanks in advance

 

[tnp651]

Hi Vincent,
You need a photo-quality printer. The ones designed for office use will show obvious lines or dots. The Epson Stylus Photo and SureColor printers are good, as are the Canon Pixma line. Best of luck with your endeavors!
Tom

 

[John51]

Before you give up on wet printing, consider McJobbing your workflow.

I have enough time to spend many days a week in my darkroom but I don't have the energy or the motivation to wet print for more than an hour every week or so. (I have copd. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.)

ime, a darkroom is a terrible time thief when creative decisions are made there. I've read of a wet printer spending almost 20 hours in the darkroom to get a print the way they wanted it. How many of those reprints were during the same printing session? It's such a waste of time imo.

Walking into the darkroom knowing exactly what is going to be printed and how means that the creative decisions have been made elsewhere. No reprinting during the same session means prints only get evaluated after they have dried down.