a thought about making large paper negs for alt-process

[pdeeh]

This thought has popped into my head more than once, but I haven't seen any other references to it - surely there must be people who have done this ... by which I mean, making paper negatives from reversal-processed film.

I shoot paper negatives in my LF foamcore cameras (lensed and pinhole) and use them to make salt prints and cyanotypes. They are pretty unwieldy beasts though, and don't lend themselves to being field cameras when I'm out for a walk. (Very first world of me, I know, when I think of those wet-platers hacking through jungles and over deserts and in war zones in the 19thC )

If I shoot 35mm (or indeed 120) I can process those as reversals and then print a paper negative directly at whatever size I want - limited only by my enlarger and trays. I can also manage contrast in the negative more easily (if I use VC paper) and manipulate with dodge and burn.

Of course all that can be done in an interpositive process anyway, and a roll of film that's been reversal processed is no good for making regular enlargements except through more fiddling about.

But I thought I'd throw the idea into the pot in case anyone has anything further to add.

 

[jnanian]

hi pdeeh

i hope i can see the results from some of your reversed-film to paper internegatives !
i too have thought of doing things like that, but i havne't gotten the hang of reversed film yet
so i cheat a little and make waxed negatives at the xerox shop.
for me at least, it is a simpler way because i haven't yet been able to do it the other way.