Color LF @ Home

Ok, I've been shooting BW 4x5 for 3 years now, and I want to try my hand at color. And I want to do it all myself. So, I was looking around, and lo and behold, discovered the magic of cross processing. My idea was that, since I will have to be using trays to do my processing, assuming that all my trays were at the correct temperature, and all the chemistry was correct, Could I take Velvia, cross process it, and then print it onto color negative paper. Since it's cross processed transparency, I won't have to worry about the brown base, which means It's a hell of a lot easier to print, right? Would this mean that It would be just like printing b&w, only in complete darkness?

You would have your work cut out trying to correct the colour shifts caused by the cross processing.

No. The contrast would not match. Just process normally.

First of all even at tungsten or daylight filtration color paper has a bias so you're most likely going to have to filter somewhat, especially for varying color temperature. There are some films which have no orange base but they're hard to find (you'd still have to filter. Agfa makes an aerial film like this. good luck finding some). The contrast of cross processed films would not match with the color paper.

You have shoot negative film, process in C41 chemistry, and print using RA4 to paper. Color has much more limited controls than B+W. For contrast control you have to change the EI in camera or you can mask the film during printing. Other than that there is really no contrast correction. It's pretty simple to get "base values" with your film and paper combo and then it's a matter of tweaking for every print. To be easy on yourself choose one film and paper. Try 160VC kodak portra and have fun.

Or you can shoot slide film, process in E6 chemistry, and print to Ilfochrome materials. This is expensive, but it can be done.

EASmithV said:

Ok, I've been shooting BW 4x5 for 3 years now, and I want to try my hand at color. And I want to do it all myself. So, I was looking around, and lo and behold, discovered the magic of cross processing. My idea was that, since I will have to be using trays to do my processing, assuming that all my trays were at the correct temperature, and all the chemistry was correct, Could I take Velvia, cross process it, and then print it onto color negative paper. Since it's cross processed transparency, I won't have to worry about the brown base, which means It's a hell of a lot easier to print, right? Would this mean that It would be just like printing b&w, only in complete darkness?

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No, it would be harder. The brown mask is precisely what the color paper expects. Neg without it would be probably harder to print or even impossible to get to proper color balance.

Second, cross processed slides are actually harder to print than normal negatives and it does not matter much if they have mask or not (and most slides do not have a completely clear base when crossed). They will have somewhat distorted colors.

I do not know what experience with cross process you have and what do you expectations or aims are but I think you'd be better off printing some normal negs first.

Dear EASmithV,

You will be much happier printing normal color negative film. Search the forum using the kewords "RA-4 Tray Processing". It really is a lot like printing b&w but in total darkness. Use gloves!

If you really want to print some positives, search the forum using "RA-4 Reversal".

Neal Wydra

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