contact printing paper positive to paper negative for alt processes

[RowanBloemhof]

Hi.

For a few days now i have been experimenting in using paper negatives for alt processes. I have used an inkjet printer with transparent media earlier on, frankly with disappointing results. So i had the idea of utilizing real photopaper instead.

Thus far my results have been better then anything i have been able to realise with the inkjetprinter. However i am still slightly puzzled by the way i should manage contrast.

In my process i make a 'print' 3 times. film->paper positive enlargement->contact print to make paper negative->exposure of carbon tissue under paper negative. In this scenario i can control contrast in the paper positive and paper negative trough the use of graded paper or VC filters. And in the carbon tissue by changing dichromate dilutions.

The question is as followed. If i enlarge/print my paper positive at say grade 2-2.5. And then make a contact print of this with the same type/brand of paper. The D. range should be equal in both papers. Does this mean i wont need to filter the light trough a contrast filter as its not necessary to compress the D. range? Or should i be using the same contrast filter i used in the positive print stage?

I am fairly much in doubt about this as i find it very hard to judge exposure and contrast on a paper negative. I've tried to look at the paper negative trough a digital camera set to negative effect, but that seems a poor substitute for a trained eye^^

 

[Prof_Pixel]

Thus far my results have been better then anything i have been able to realise with the inkjetprinter.

Not all ink jet printers are capable of making good negatives.

 

[Rick A]

I find it best to use graded paper not multi grade, and use a harder grade for each step to increase contrast. You actually loose contrast as you print from one paper to the next.

 

[RowanBloemhof]

Oh yea i know what you mean. I experimented a bit with a real old HP printer first. That clearly wasn't going to work. So i decided to go for an Epson R2400. Which is as far as i know considered a good printer for digi negs. The dmax and resolution is incredible, id guess something near log.d 4.

Problem being that i kept seeing awful dithering patterns in the darker parts of the negative. Resulting in very muddy and inconsistent whites. In a few days time i ruined a 40 euro pack of pictorico on countless stepwedges and stuff.

In the end i found my self only getting increasingly angry with the bloody printer. Which made me make the decision of putting that thing away for now and focussing on more analog and enjoyable methods^^

 

[RowanBloemhof]

I find it best to use graded paper not multi grade, and use a harder grade for each step to increase contrast. You actually loose contrast as you print from one paper to the next.

Interesting. That is actually quite fortunate as i still got a few boxes of grade 4/5 paper laying arround. Which i seldomly use for making normal prints, and would otherwise just age locked away in a cabinet. I think il give that a try tomorrow. Thanks!