Inkjet Paper Negatives?

RalphLambrecht · Jul 1, 2014

has any body ever tried to print inverted ink-jet prints as paper negatives? it should work if they are done with a high-resolution ink-jet, printed emulsion -side down. shouldn't it?

omaha · Jul 1, 2014

We used to use an inkjet printer for making film positives for our silk screen operation, so perhaps that is similar.

We used a special transparency film and special, high-opacity inks. I don't remember where we got it, but we used a modified Epson printer (wide format...something like 18" if I recall correctly) that was equipped with a high-capacity, refillable "outboard" black ink system (it had a little tube that reached down to the print head).

Anyway, the whole system was a decent try, but ultimately we abandoned it. We opted instead to outsource our film positive production to a local company that had a proper filmsetter machine. Not only was the resolution far, far superior, but the resulting films were more durable and (most importantly) water proof.

I don't know if any of that is relevant to what you are trying to do, so take it for what its worth.

RalphLambrecht · Jul 1, 2014

omaha said:
We used to use an inkjet printer for making film positives for our silk screen operation, so perhaps that is similar.

We used a special transparency film and special, high-opacity inks. I don't remember where we got it, but we used a modified Epson printer (wide format...something like 18" if I recall correctly) that was equipped with a high-capacity, refillable "outboard" black ink system (it had a little tube that reached down to the print head).

Anyway, the whole system was a decent try, but ultimately we abandoned it. We opted instead to outsource our film positive production to a local company that had a proper filmsetter machine. Not only was the resolution far, far superior, but the resulting films were more durable and (most importantly) water proof.

I don't know if any of that is relevant to what you are trying to do, so take it for what its worth.

Yes, Ithink,it's similar.nevertheless,I get a Dmax of 2.25 from the standars Epson K3 inks ,which is high enough to make a paper negative. also the sharpness and resolution of the 3880is high (7-8 lp/mm).that means all the detail is there tooit might be strange to use an ink-jet printer and ink-jet paper to make an analog print in the end but, it will combine digital flexibility with analog beauty;worth a try?

ann · Jul 2, 2014

yes, we have made a paper negative using several different programs made for doing that, Mark Nelson's program , Dan Burkholder has one as well.

Then contact printed the negative to regular silver gelation paper in the darkroom, Have to be sure the silver paper doesn't have a water mark and the times are long.

People are making the digital negatives and then using them for alternative processes as well.

RalphLambrecht · Jul 3, 2014

ann said:
yes, we have made a paper negative using several different programs made for doing that, Mark Nelson's program , Dan Burkholder has one as well.

Then contact printed the negative to regular silver gelation paper in the darkroom, Have to be sure the silver paper doesn't have a water mark and the times are long.

People are making the digital negatives and then using them for alternative processes as well.

that's right;luckely ,Ilford paper does not have a watermark and all my ink-jet papers don't have one either.combining analog and digital is so much funbut I must sat that I'm very impressed with what modern ink-jet-printers can do;producing exhibition quality does not seem to be a problemanymore,resolution and tonal gradation is top notch. I'm very pleased with my initial resultsand already sold some prints.

Inkjet Paper Negatives?

RalphLambrecht

omaha

RalphLambrecht

ann

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