My first color print!

ciocc · Jan 26, 2019

If this should go in the lounge, let me know, I'll move it. I'm not a photographer, nor am I an artist. I'm just an amateur hack who's fascinated by photographic processes. I've been printing black and white for a while, but never color, as I was scared of it. I thought it was too complicated. I decided to give it a go, otherwise, it would nag me forever. I went to the Freestyle website and bought some color gel printing filters for my b&w enlarger, an Arista RA-4 kit, and a box of Fujicolor Crystal Archive paper. I also bought an Unicolor drum on the auction site. I already own an old Phototherm tempering bath.

Wow, it's so much easier than I thought it would be! It was no more difficult than b&w printing. The Arista chemicals are very forgiving. I hand rolled the drum, easy as pie. As I was washing my first test strip, I realized I forgot to put the color filters in the enlarger! Other than that, no other problems. I started with 40M+40Y, and ended up with 40M+20Y. I'm hooked. I wish I could get different grades of paper, but no biggie. I found an article that describes how to make contrast reducing masks. I'm looking forward to lot's of practice and learning!

Here's a pic of my first print. Could use less contrast I think.

Kino · Jan 26, 2019

Bravo! That's great for a first try! about 30 years ago, I had a fully equipped University lab and it took me far longer to get my first print to look good!

Johnkpap · Jan 26, 2019

Well done, My first prints were no way as good, I used a crappy LPL5700 Enlarger a roller base and Ilford drums, the biggest issue is getting the Chemistry here in Sunny Australia. the other thing that caused me a issue was when my Enlarger bulb Failed !!! it took me 10 sheets to get the filtration sorted again !!! If you can find one Cheap a Color Star Timer/ Analyzer is very useful too. If you keep going with color you may need to locate a roller processor durst made them but as they are getting a bit long in the tooth make sure it is fully working first. Yes GAS can set in......If you need any help drop me a line you will be surprised at what I can remember. One other thing is you can save $$$ buying paper in a roll and cutting it in the dark ....that can be all kinds of fun

Johnkpap

ciocc · Jan 26, 2019

Johnkpap said:
Well done, My first prints were no way as good, I used a crappy LPL5700 Enlarger a roller base and Ilford drums, the biggest issue is getting the Chemistry here in Sunny Australia. the other thing that caused me a issue was when my Enlarger bulb Failed !!! it took me 10 sheets to get the filtration sorted again !!! If you can find one Cheap a Color Star Timer/ Analyzer is very useful too. If you keep going with color you may need to locate a roller processor durst made them but as they are getting a bit long in the tooth make sure it is fully working first. Yes GAS can set in......If you need any help drop me a line you will be surprised at what I can remember. One other thing is you can save $$$ buying paper in a roll and cutting it in the dark ....that can be all kinds of fun

Johnkpap

Thanks. I found a Durst RCP 20 converted to RA-4, in pristine condition, but he wants 1K for it. I'll pass! I thought about buying Kodak paper in a roll, but have to put some thought into how I will cut it. I did buy the Kodak color print viewing filter kit on the auction site. That was very helpful.

WilmarcoImaging · Jan 26, 2019

Congratulations, looks great.

Photo Engineer · Jan 26, 2019

Congratulations and best wishes for the future.

Sirius Glass · Jan 27, 2019

Well done!!! Enjoy!

perkeleellinen · Jan 27, 2019

It's magic pulling your first colour print from the darkroom!

koraks · Jan 27, 2019

Good job!
On the contrast: there's not much you can do about it obviously. RA4 papers are inherently very contrasty these days. Kodak Endura a little more so than the crystal archive you used here.

Are the borders of your print clear white or is there some fog going on? I see some coloration but it may just be the white balance of the digital photo.

On color processors and drums: I have to admit I don't use them. I don't even use a tempering bath. I just use trays at room temperature. Works a treat as long as the development time is extended. I use about 90 to 100 seconds.

Wayne · Jan 27, 2019

koraks said:
Good job!

Agreed! Welcome to the RA-4 club. We need new members.

I just use trays at room temperature. Works a treat as long as the development time is extended. I use about 90 to 100 seconds.

That's longer than in drums at 100+ F., but a bit shorter than the 2 minutes most people use in trays at room temp.

FujiLove · Jan 27, 2019

Brilliant! So good to see other people wet colour printing. I really love B&W printing, but for me, there's nothing more magical than pulling a huge colour print out of the blix and switching on the room lights. Gets me every time.

Happy printing!

iandvaag · Jan 27, 2019

Congrats on taking the step into color printing! I've also started color printing in the past couple years, and I've found it very rewarding.

ciocc said:
I'm just an amateur hack who's fascinated by photographic processes.

Amateur is how I describe myself too with regards to photography and darkroom work. Just remember that "amateur" means lover in french, and that's what we are, lovers of the photographic process. I think that in many ways that is just as noble as those who claim to be "artists".

pentaxuser · Jan 27, 2019

As a first effort it looks pretty good. My first effort was a print of the manneken pis statue in Brussels and it came out looking distinctly green I take it that this is the 40M +20Y one. I'd be interested in seeing the 40M +40Y as well On my screen the 40M+20Y looks a little too warm and reddish but this may be my perception or my screen as no-one else has mentioned this.

Thanks

pentaxuser

Sirius Glass · Jan 27, 2019

I have two drums,the Jobo processor and the dichroic enlarge so when am I going to get off my ass and start printing? I go spoiled at Kodak with the Keronite machine.

ciocc · Jan 27, 2019

koraks said:
Good job!
On the contrast: there's not much you can do about it obviously. RA4 papers are inherently very contrasty these days. Kodak Endura a little more so than the crystal archive you used here.

Are the borders of your print clear white or is there some fog going on? I see some coloration but it may just be the white balance of the digital photo.

On color processors and drums: I have to admit I don't use them. I don't even use a tempering bath. I just use trays at room temperature. Works a treat as long as the development time is extended. I use about 90 to 100 seconds.

The borders are clear white. I couldn't get the white balance correct with my digicam or in the image editing software. It was taken under florescent lighting and it's hard to get the WB correct, even with the florescent setting on the digicam. I developed at 85 F for 100 seconds. It was probably less than that, as my darkroom was close to 60 degrees and I don't pre wet or preheat the drum.

ciocc · Jan 27, 2019

pentaxuser said:
As a first effort it looks pretty good. My first effort was a print of the manneken pis statue in Brussels and it came out looking distinctly green I take it that this is the 40M +20Y one. I'd be interested in seeing the 40M +40Y as well On my screen the 40M+20Y looks a little too warm and reddish but this may be my perception or my screen as no-one else has mentioned this.

Thanks

pentaxuser

The pic was taken under florescent lighting. Even tho the lamp is supposedly a daylight color temperature, I couldn't get the WB correct with the digicam or image editing software.

ciocc · Jan 27, 2019

FujiLove said:
Brilliant! So good to see other people wet colour printing. I really love B&W printing, but for me, there's nothing more magical than pulling a huge colour print out of the blix and switching on the room lights. Gets me every time.

Happy printing!

Thank goodness for Fujicolor paper. Honestly, I can't justify a 600 foot long roll of Kodak paper. I just don't do enough printing to pull that off.

RPC · Jan 27, 2019

I too use trays, with room temperature developer. Much easier than pouring solutions in and out of the drum and rolling it, and heating up the chemistry.

koraks · Jan 27, 2019

Like RPC, I find trays just more convenient.

Kodak Endura also comes in rolls of about 250-300ft I believe. Here in Europe I see 30cm x 80m listed at least.

1kgcoffee · Jan 27, 2019

Congrats brother. I wish everyone knew how easy color printing is, more would attempt it. It's actually cheaper than b&w.

FujiLove · Jan 27, 2019

koraks said:
Like RPC, I find trays just more convenient.

Kodak Endura also comes in rolls of about 250-300ft I believe. Here in Europe I see 30cm x 80m listed at least.

That’s right. I bought mine from AG Photographic in the UK. Works out really good value compared to the Fuji cut sheets. Bit of a faff to cut, but great paper.

koraks · Jan 27, 2019

I find both the Crystal Archive Supreme and the Endura papers nicely complement each other. The Fuji is more subtle in color, great for portraiture and subtle images, while the Endura makes colors pop like no other while retaining a natural look. I really need to get a new roll of Endura, as the cut sheets I have from a German source seem to be fogged a bit.

warden · Jan 27, 2019

Now I have to look in to this too. Thanks!

My first color print!

ciocc

Kino

Johnkpap

ciocc

WilmarcoImaging

Photo Engineer

Sirius Glass

perkeleellinen

koraks

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Wayne

FujiLove

iandvaag

pentaxuser

Sirius Glass

ciocc

ciocc

ciocc

RPC

koraks

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1kgcoffee

FujiLove

koraks

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warden

My first color print!

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