How Many Prints in a 4hr session?

[VaryaV]

I'm with you on the dodging and burning, JohnnyWalker.

I am very happy if I get one, maybe two goods print in a session, my sessions usually go from 6-8 hours on the weekends. The week is reserved for shooting, developing and contact printing.

 

[climbabout]

2-4 prints usually

In a 4 hour session - 2-4 prints is about my average - used to be much lower. However I must put this in the framework in which I work.

1 - I am contact printing 8x10 negs - dodging and burning is needed much less than when I was enlarging.

2 - I am using a pyro based film developer (pyrocat) which gives me highlights that are much easier to control than the developer I previously used.

3 - I do not tone usually during the initial printing session - usually at a later date to be more efficient.

4 - possibly this is one of the best methods I ever learned in a darkroom - I must credit Michael Smith for this - I no longer make test strips. I use his "outflanking the print" method and I waste far less paper. You can find his article here:

http://michaelandpaula.com/mp/onprinting.html

I was skeptical about it at first - by after getting used to it, I am a MUCH, MUCH more efficient printer.

I could probably increase my output if I was less fussy, but I hate to compromise.

Hope this helps.

Tim

 

[MattKing]

I am a little surprised about some of the dodging and burning comments here.

I enjoy dodging and burning.

Just make notes right on a work print - in pencil!

By the way, if you dodge and burn, then you will definitely want to try using f/stop printing (thanks to Ralph Lambrecht for his table!).

Matt

P.S. I've been told that when I dodge and burn, my hands seem to dance. That's good, because when I dance, my feet don't seem to dance.

 

[Vincent Brady]

It should take as long as it takes, keeping check on number of prints produced is discouraging. It is not a competition. As John O'Donohue says (in Anam Cara) " In the world of creative work, where your gift is engaged there is no competition."

TEX

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I have lately adopted the approach of doing one or two prints per printing session. It may be that I make five copies of the print, but usually just one negative, maybe two.

I predetermine which negative by proofing on the scanner or examine contact sheets with a loupe. It helps me focus on that negative and print to be the best picture it can be. So I end up with fewer prints, but more that I'm truly happy with, or at least I know I gave it my best shot.

It used to be that I'd come out with ten prints from a session, but usually just one or two I really truly wanted to keep. Your mileage may vary, but I feel my new approach teaches me patience, and it helps me produce better work, while operating in a more focused manner. Win win for me.

- T

 

[Andrew Moxom]

I average around 5 to 8 prints in a 4 hour session if everything goes well. That includes mixing chems, exposing, developing and toning. I need and extra hour for washing the prints afterwards.

I'm like Ian in that I do not do contact sheets. I read each neg seperately and dial in the contrast I think I need and make one test print. IF the film I am printing from is all souped the same and from similar subjects, then I know that my test print will give me my base expsoure more often than not. I can then extrapolate what extra, or less I need print exposure, or dodging and burning wise as I am setting the next neg up ready to print from. If luck goes my way and I can get the prints I am after quickly, I may sometimes expose 2 or 3 sheets right after another so that the 'print map' in my head stays there!) Then I process them in the trays together. It can speed up the proceedings slightly, and ensures everything is expsosed and processed identically. Once I am done, I write the print map with a pencil onto a post-it note and place all the exposure details, dodging, burning details onto that sheet, note the neg# and stick it on the outside of the print file for future reference. I store the prints (8x10) in a water bath up in the kitchen, and larger prints in the vertical 12x16 print washer. Once I have a batch of prints, I then start the toning process of a short and dilute bleach of each print, rinse , place in holding bath or washer and then lightly sepia tone, rinse, back in holding bath... Change holding bath once this is complete and add in Hypo clear. Take prints out one at a time and rinse then place into selenium toner. Once toned, rinse again, and place into Hypo clear holding bath. Repeat for all other prints. Then empty holding try and refill, and start main wash sequence for one hour....

 

[MMfoto]

0 to 10 of the same print. Depends on how things go....

That's exactly what I was about to type. You definitely need an option for zero in your survey. I have made finished prints on the first sheet maybe twice. I have one image that I've spent probably ten 4 hour sessions on, over two years and much voodoo, and still not there yet.

I usually print between 4 and 12 hours. On average though, in an ~eight hour session, probably 4 good prints. This is a little deceptive though, because after making these prints, and living with them for a while; if they have any 'salt' I usually end up printing them again to resolve any issues, or refine them a little.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

It's very, very, very variable.

So variable that I have been trying to put a number by it, but it's meaningless: anywhere from struggling for days with on one negative to printing uncut 35mm rolls with a negatrans - shuffling a dozen sheets of paper through the developer at a time.

If it is the usual muck around in the darkroom for an evening then I may make 4 or so prints from a day's shooting - maybe one will be worth more work and the creation of a matted & framed print, though as often as not it is just the production of more 'what did I see in that?' prints that get added to a large pile of same.

 

[psvensson]

I go through a dozen or more negs in four hours, with two or three keeper prints of each. That doesn't include the time needed to break down the darkroom, which goes up in our bathroom, but does include setup time. I print only on RC, which speeds things up. My new RH Designs timer helps a little bit too.