The orange mask makes it difficult to get much in the way of contrast, especially if you use variable contrast paper.
It would probably work better with Panalure (a discontinued, fully panchromatic black & white paper you need to use in complete darkness), but if you have any of that, it would be best to save it for colour negatives.
Try a test or two with your regular paper - you might like the lower contrast result.
The orange masking can make it more difficult to print, especially with VC papers, but it can be done. For C41 film to print in a darkroom, I would recommend Ilford XP-2 Super. It does not have the masking and is designed more for traditional wet printing.
What they said. Start at grade 4 for multigrade paper and expect longer than usual times. I imagine (although I haven't tried) that graded papers would be fairly normal but with much longer times.
I have printed BW400CN negs on Oreintal Seagull RC VC II glossy. The prints might be on the thin side sans filtration, but they were actually pretty decent.
Yeah but nothing. Can it be done? Sure if you're willing to put up with an inferior result. This film was designed to be either scanned or printed onto color paper. That's it. If you want B&W C-41 film that you can print just like a regular B&W negative, then use Ilford's XP2 Super.
A lot of strong Opinions in the negative here. I have been using c41 for 20 years in small and medium format and tradional Black and White films in Large format. It is true that you will be useing grades 3 and 4 more in the enlarger and 20 to 45 sec. for enlarger exposure times. Sometimes I use an old set of under lens Kodak filters (in a bakelite box) for its particularily strong magenta to get a true 5
In strong sunlight, such as a Kenya safari the film is perfect as is, taking the high contrast scene down to a range to fit to silver paper.
I like getting the stores prints as proof prints, but I always ask them to dial down the contrast 10% as I think they print too contrasty on the colour paper.(they say that is how the public like it)
Different horses for different courses.
Are my results inferior to Frank's.
Probably :confused:
I have several students print with these negatives, and as others have indicated it can be done. they got some pretty decent prints starting with a grade 3.5 filter. After they figured out the issues no more problems.