Do you choose the printing process when you press the shutter release?

[Dali]

I do "regular" printing and also lith printing.

I noticed recently that, more and more, I am forecasting the printing process ("regular" or lith) when I press the shutter release, saying myself " might be a good lith subject" or not.

Of course, I can change my mind but by experience, it does not happen that often.

So, like me, are you choosing the printing process way before the film is even developed or are you waiting to get the contact sheet in hands to decide?

 

[juan]

Yes. I use the Beyond The Zone System method and it focuses on exposing and developing the negative to match the printing paper one will use.

 

[Vaughn]

Yes. Different alt processes often require negatives of different contrast ranges, thus exposure and development will depend on the end printing process. I print pt/pd and carbon. Images will differ slightly due to process (due to the different characteristics of the process). Sometimes I will expose two sheets of film of the same image and process each for different processes.

 

[ProfessorC1983]

This is a subject I'm very much interested in learning more about. Can anyone recommend a good reference for the contrast indices (gamma) and density ranges that are most appropriate for various alternative processes? The numbers I've been able to find are fairly vague and somewhat contradictory.

 

[Vaughn]

Unfortunately, most processes have enough variability that such numbers can only be fairly vague. For example, I make platinum/palladium prints and I use no contrast agents...so my negs will have a greater DR than the average platinum printer. And the same with my carbon printing...I use a very low pigment concentration and a high sensitizer concentration to get the prints I want, and this requires a high film DR. I am using negatives above a DR of over 2.5 most of the time. Good luck!

 

[J 3]

Sandy King wrote some articles on this subject. If I find them I'll post, but you might try searching with his name included. Things vary tremendously if the process has any kind of contrast available.

 

[KenS]

Sandy King wrote some articles on this subject. If I find them I'll post, but you might try searching with his name included. Things vary tremendously if the process has any kind of contrast available.

Dr. King's 'tomes' on the benefits of Pyrocat HD are the reason it is now the ONLY film developer now 'allowed' in my darkroom for ALL
my films (either 4x5 or 8x10). That being said, all my exposed film are now developed in BTZS tubes (with continuous 'rotary' agitation.
No more 'hangers-in-tank' or 'tray development' and believe I'm getting the most 'even' developing of all my films.

Ken