How many are printing color using a wet process?

RellikJM · Feb 6, 2009

RA4 , EP2, Cibachrome, Ilfochrome etc..

Mick Fagan · Feb 7, 2009

RA4, can you get EP2 these days?

Mick.

jd callow · Feb 7, 2009

I will again, but haven't in almost 3 years

Ed Sukach · Feb 7, 2009

Yes! Sweet madness...

Adrian Twiss · Feb 7, 2009

There is a school of thought that suggests that given advances in colour digital printing there is little qualitative advantage in starting wet colour printing if you have never done it before. I don't know if this is true but given that I use a computer for about 8 hours a day as part of my job, I'll be damned if I'm going to use one as part of my hobby (apart from visiting APUG that is).

hka · Feb 7, 2009

Yes, RA4 for almost 35 years now. Early days also Cibachromes.

Michael W · Feb 7, 2009

I print using the colour darkroom at the ACP in Sydney. I find wet colour printing to be easier than scanning & trying to get the colour right on screen. Neg to paper is a seamless & easy process.

Jeff Kubach · Feb 7, 2009

Yes, RA4. I'll be color until they close down the darkroom at the local communtiy college.

Jeff

bdial · Feb 7, 2009

I'm with Adrian and Goldie. I have everything equipment wise I need for printing color, so I've been thinking why not "just do it"?

ricksplace · Feb 7, 2009

I started RA4 about a year ago. Just lovin' it. Not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be.

Matt5791 · Feb 7, 2009

Adrian Twiss said:
There is a school of thought that suggests that given advances in colour digital printing there is little qualitative advantage in starting wet colour printing if you have never done it before. I don't know if this is true but given that I use a computer for about 8 hours a day as part of my job, I'll be damned if I'm going to use one as part of my hobby (apart from visiting APUG that is).

RA4 can't be beaten for cost particularly if you have any kind of volume - I just printed 100 8x10's in about £8 worth of chemistry and 18p per sheet.

Especially when compared to Inkjet.

Matt

dpurdy · Feb 7, 2009

Oh I voted "I would like to" because I thought you meant in your own darkroom. I print wet color all the time in a rental dark room.
Dennis

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Feb 7, 2009

ricksplace said:
I started RA4 about a year ago. Just lovin' it. Not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be.

What you said. The temp control is a bit annoying because I don't have a proper water heater (so I use the tap to heat/cool developer to the right temp), but other than that, I was surprised to discover that the process was easy to figure out.

michaelbsc · Feb 7, 2009

Adrian Twiss said:
... but given that I use a computer for about 8 hours a day as part of my job, I'll be damned if I'm going to use one as part of my hobby (apart from visiting APUG that is).

Here, here. My "hobby" is *NOT* driven by profit or even, necessarily, clear reasoning. That's why it's called an avocation, not a vocation. I frankly don't care if some day irrefutable proof is shoved in my face that digital prints are not only "better" but cheaper and this and that and the other superlative. I do what entertains me.

Take, for example, the 20 year old Crayola picture I keep on my bedroom nightstand made by my then 4 year old child. No one in the "art" world would even begin to compare that little drawing to anything hanging in even a small town museum. But if I am forced to choose between my kid's little picture and a master's work of art to take with me somewhere, I'm picking the kid's work because it means something to *ME*. Same with film/wet prints. They mean something to *ME* that I care about. Technical merit or detraction aside, this is about satisfying me.

Take, for another example, that I am beginning to read up on the old tin-type pictures. I've already got a old twin shutter mechanism, and I'm trying to work out the process and camera details to make them. Is this a profitable venture? Not a chance. If there was still money in it, it wouldn't have fallen from favor by the street vendors a hundred years ago. But I don't care; it's to satisfy me.

MB

Lopaka · Feb 7, 2009

Yes, RA-4 and Ilfochrome. Ilfochrome (aka Cibachrome) is on its last legs with me - with it being special order only I can deal with up to 3 months lead time to get materials, but not the cost. The last change in chemistry tripled the price and I can no longer afford it. When my current stock is exhausted, I will be done with it. RA-4, however will remain in my darkroom as long as I can get (and afford) materials. In the current cost structure, it is cheaper than printing B&W, so I don't see any near term issues with cost.

Bob

mrwestphal · Feb 7, 2009

Yup, RA-4, E-6 and occasionally Ilfochrome but there has to be a lot of good negs for me to break open and mix a batch up.

srmcnamara · Feb 7, 2009

I just started a color class and I've only had darkroom time to make one unfinished print. in comparing it to the digital prints I've made the Film just looks more "right" even though the color isn't spot on yet.

The print object, however, doesn't really excite me like a good fiber based black and white. it's just too plasticky and not so different from a digital print (to my very untrained eye).

perkeleellinen · Feb 7, 2009

I clicked "I'd like to" as there wasn't an option for "I will". My long-term project for 2009 is to start colour printing. I'm saving up for a colour head at the moment.

Chan Tran · Feb 7, 2009

Making my own color prints using wet process is the reason I use film.

Michael Wilder · Feb 8, 2009

Cibachrome regularly since 1974 for other photographers now and as long as I can. Rarely: RA4, C41, E6 and B&W. I have a Merz processor that does it all. I have a new Epson 9900 that makes great prints, but still does not have the depth of what I can get from Cibachrome.

nickandre · Feb 8, 2009

perkeleellinen said:
I clicked "I'd like to" as there wasn't an option for "I will". My long-term project for 2009 is to start colour printing. I'm saving up for a colour head at the moment.

Saving up? Cost me $80 shipped on ebay for an entire enlarger w/ 50mm lens which would do up to 6x6. They're practically getting thrown out.

Michel Hardy-Vallée said:
What you said. The temp control is a bit annoying because I don't have a proper water heater (so I use the tap to heat/cool developer to the right temp), but other than that, I was surprised to discover that the process was easy to figure out.

Temp control? What's that? My temp control is the house heater which stays at 68 degrees most of the year.

gordrob · Feb 8, 2009

RA 4 in a Durst RCP40 - up to 16" prints. I have some 20x24" paper that I want to try at room temperature. E6 up to 5x7 and does anyone remember Ektaflex- I still have some film frozen and one last gallon of activator that needs to be used in the near future.
Gord

E76 · Feb 8, 2009

I just started making RA4 prints this year, after a failed attempt last year to start making Ilfochromes (and now with the cost of chemistry, I doubt it will ever happen). I'm using the Kodak chemistry at room temperature, and so far I have found the process to be painlesseven easier than black and white!

gr82bart · Feb 8, 2009

All my colour prints use a wet process from scanned film. They are not optically printed. But, they are not inkjets either. Most of you guys will just dismiss this as 'digital'.

Regards, Art.

delphine · Feb 8, 2009

I answered I'd like to. I printed RA4 at the communal darkroom years ago and I'd love to be able to print color again. The disposal of the chemicals is really the reason that I have not started printing RA4 in my darkroom. I live in a flat in the city.. I cannot think of a practical solution to this problem.

How many are printing color using a wet process?

Do you print color using a wet process?

Yes! And I will until I can't print anymore.

Yes.

No.

I'd like to.

I did and don't anymore.

RellikJM

Mick Fagan

jd callow

Moderator

Ed Sukach

Adrian Twiss

hka

Michael W

Jeff Kubach

bdial

ricksplace

Matt5791

dpurdy

Michel Hardy-Vallée

Membership Council

michaelbsc

Lopaka

mrwestphal

srmcnamara

perkeleellinen

Chan Tran

Michael Wilder

nickandre

gordrob

E76

gr82bart

delphine

How many are printing color using a wet process?

Do you print color using a wet process?

Yes! And I will until I can't print anymore.

Yes.

No.

I'd like to.

I did and don't anymore.

Moderator

Membership Council

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Privacy & Transparency