Fist enlarging print B/W paper

captain ZZM · Jan 27, 2015

During these years lve been shoot all types bus in China. Usually,I use color film and scan to computer in the past days.But in the end of last year,l bought a box Lucky paper（No.3 10*12in) and later bought a old Agfa no.3 speet paper(9 1/2 in and labeled DM on box).So l went to my friend's darkroom, and he taught to me processing paper.
What you see is a scan of a printed photographic paper,by Epson V700.

And l come from China,please forgive my bad Englishbroken English.

Beijing BusBK6180D2,Lucky No.3 paper.Under exposure film.Agfa Isoly II

Old Mini bus in the street corner.Agfa speet No.3.Porst 135 KE.

"Yutong" bus in Hebei.Agfa speet No.3."Baihua"(百花）35.Lucky SHD400.

Old beijing articulated bus.Agfa speet No.3.Porst 135 KE.

David Lyga · Jan 27, 2015

The prints do seem to be lacking sufficient contrast. This might be due to scanning, however.

Captain, if they look this weak (the actual prints), I would test the paper for fog (you can do this by placing a coin on the paper as you expose it on your enlarger baseboard). Or your darkroom safe-light might be causing fog. Or ... your negatives might be very low in contrast (look at them carefully, with a magnifying glass to see if the image is normal or too undifferentiated tonally). Finally, if the paper grade is too low, that will cause such a lack of contrast. There could be many reasons for low contrast. - David Lyga

tkamiya · Jan 27, 2015

I guess your image upload or link didn't work. I cannot see your images.

It is awfully difficult to judge a print from scanned version. Also, low contract can be the scene, the exposure, development of exposure, paper, printing, and development of print. If you are using your friend's darkroom, he or she should be your best guide. Start from your negative, then go through what you did to arrive at the final image. There are a lot you can do to improve on it, but your local resource whom you can talk to and show the product, will be your best friend. (especially you have a friend with a darkroom)

Welcome to APUG.

Ektagraphic · Jan 27, 2015

Welcome to APUG and congratulations on your first prints! Looking good! There is tons and tons of information here and very smart people who will help you with anything you could possibly ask. They are great!

OptiKen · Jan 27, 2015

Congratulations!
I, too, am taking my first steps in printing and think yours look great.

captain ZZM · Jan 28, 2015

Thanks,David. The darkroom safe-light is qualified——In the darkroom,my friend has been enlarging many best photo in the last year.Maybe scanned image's contrast wil be reduced l think.And the Agfa paper so old.

David Lyga · Jan 28, 2015

Captain, WHENEVER I scan (I take a picture of a photo with a Canon bridge camera) I get low contrast. But even when I bring a photo to a dedicated printer shop I STILL get low contrast. I do not know why that is but I use 'Ribbet.com' to correct matters.

You can tell whether or not the Agfa paper is to blame by putting a coin on the paper as you expose it in your enlarger. Then, after processing, look at the coin area carefully and compare it with pure white copy paper. If is is greyish, than it is partially age-fogged, but this can be brought back to pure white with highly diluted Farmer's Reducer. - David Lyga

pentaxuser · Jan 28, 2015

An easy age-fogging test is simply to cut two small pieces of paper. Do not expose either to light except the safelight and then for a very short period only. Put the first paper through the develop, stop and fix stages and the second paper through fix stage only. You can wash both papers briefly afterwards. If the paper is age-fogged then the develop, stop and fix paper will be grey and the fix only will be pure white. If it is not age-fogged then both will be pure white.

As an alternative to David's Farmer's Reducer you can add benzotriazole to the developer which reduces the grey fogging or even eliminates it if it is only slightly grey

pentaxuser

David Lyga · Jan 28, 2015

pentaxuser said:
If it is not age-fogged then both will be pure white.

As an alternative to David's Farmer's Reducer you can add benzotriazole to the developer which reduces the grey fogging or even eliminates it if it is only slightly grey

pentaxuser

Of course, if the safelight is faulty even the 'new' paper might be slightly fogged.

Pentaxuser, I agree with the BZ but I find a very dilute Farmer's to be a bit better for enhancing contrast. But, you are still correct. - David Lyga

Peter Schrager · Jan 28, 2015

Welcome..your english is way better than my chinese!
Best,peter

Fist enlarging print B/W paper

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency