Artificial lighting for paper negatives

ajmiller · Jan 25, 2011

I bought a 3200k quartz halogen light continuous video light ( from calumet here) and want to use it to light still lifes. I'm using paper negatives. No matter how I try I can't seem to get the exposures right and I've gotten myself so confused I don't know where to start any sane kind of testing.:confused:

anyone have any pointers please?

ps - also posted this in paper negatives group

removed account4 · Jan 25, 2011

hi tony

what paper are you using ?
some papers are more sensitive to greenish than bluish light. ...
and what iso are you using for your tests / meter readings ?
as PE has pointed out some papers have a high iso, closer to 25 than 6
you could might make some test exposures, with a piece of paper in a 35mm or mf camera
iso 1 first, and then double time all the way up to iso 25 ...
right on the back with pen or something so you can keep all your exposures straight.

john

epig · Jan 25, 2011

If I recall, paper has an ISO rating around 1-2. Also paper is blue and green sensitive (for multicontrast) and quartz lights have very little of those colors in it's spectrum, so you'll need to extend your exposure to compensate. You might try a tunsten to daylight conversion filter either on the light or on the lens.

Eric

Photo Engineer · Jan 25, 2011

I expose paper to Daylight at ISO 25, but your lighting is entirely different. So, it would be difficult to guess what you will get with quartz halogen. At 3200K, it is very deficient in blue and green light to which papers have their maximum sensitivity. This light will probably be high in red with some lines all over the place from the halogens.

Remember that paper is about 4x higher in contrast than film and has virtually no latitude (At grade 2.0 approximately). So, misses are very probable and lots of experiments will be needed.

PE

ajmiller · Jan 25, 2011

Thanks guys - I've been using Kentmere VC Select and rating at ISO 25 - it works a treat in daylight.
I was wondering about a filter over the light but then there's the heat to contend with - so one over the lens may be the answer.
Am I looking at something like a Lee 201 Full C.T Blue?

thanks again
Tony

Rick A · Jan 25, 2011

I've gotten decent results using graded paper rated at iso 3 under tungsten light. I dont get good negatives from multigrade paper. Preflashing help a good bit with contrast.

ajmiller · Jan 25, 2011

Just to add something to my above method - I also preflash for 2 seconds at Grade 0 (30Y).

Photo Engineer · Jan 25, 2011

I would use ISO 3 myself then under your conditions. Just as a starter.

PE

removed account4 · Jan 25, 2011

i wasn't sure what the light was so i called calumet
and the guy i spoke with said
it was tungsten --- and put out blue light ..

whoops !
sorry i wasn't much help tony !
john

Photo Engineer · Jan 25, 2011

Tungsten puts out red light and some green with little blue! The 3200 tells us that.

PE

ajmiller · Jan 25, 2011

I'm in Calumet tomorrow so I'll buy some blue filter and fit it across the lens. Then test as suggested by PE.

epig said:
If I recall, paper has an ISO rating around 1-2. Also paper is blue and green sensitive (for multicontrast) and quartz lights have very little of those colors in it's spectrum, so you'll need to extend your exposure to compensate. You might try a tunsten to daylight conversion filter either on the light or on the lens.

Eric

John Koehrer · Jan 25, 2011

Don't ask the same guy that said tungsten gives high blue.

removed account4 · Jan 25, 2011

John Koehrer said:
Don't ask the same guy that said tungsten gives high blue.

that guy was in chicago,
i think he will be OK

ajmiller · Jan 26, 2011

<------ think so!

thanks.

Artificial lighting for paper negatives

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