New Years Resolution: A darkroom

[winterclock]

The fiber paper will take longer to work with, longer times in develop, stop and fix. Longer time to wash and more water used. It also will want to dry curled not flat and may need to be flattened. It may be easier to start out with the RC paper if you don't have a lot of patience.

 

[Nerotheroman]

@Sirius: Thanks for the reply! Just did a research on that machine.
That thing loogs awesome. To bad that the maximum negative size for
enlarging is 4x5. I need it to be 13x18/5x7

@winterclock: The plan was to get both varieties of paper. Start out with
RC, to become a bit experienced in exposing, useage of filters and so on.
After I feel okay about my results, I'd like to start with fiber
Because I simply dislike tue look and feel of RC a lot.
For the issues you mentioned, I will have to see what works best for me.
If the wet process does need longer times, tzat is fine by me.
I'm more of a slowly worker so that wouldn't change my workspeed I think.
But curling will be an issue. I read loads of threads, how to treat fiber based paper.
Some glue it on glass, some put it in a drying press and others simply put it
in drying books and wait a week or two until it's
flat.

To be honest that point is my main concern in the whole
printing process. So I need to find out quickly,
what works for me best. But Im willing to go through
that trouble

Thanks for your answer!

Best wishes
Mathias

 

[M Carter]

I use inexpensive Adorama RC branded paper for getting to know the neg, test strips, dialing in contrast, etc, usually at 8x10. When I've got a feel for it, I switch to fiber and get serious. Heck, I need one print just to take the neg back out and really clean specific spots of dust off well.

If I'm going bigger (say, 11x14) there's a formula to calculate the new exposure (it's a sticky in the enlarging forum, too).

I've found there will be shifts in contrast, dodging/burning, etc, but that it's overall a good value (for me) to work this way - changes aren't drastic and my paper expense is less - the cheap 8x10 isn't a waste by any means. I may use a lot of RC 8x10, but then only a few sheets of pricier and larger fiber, and the associated processing and washing.

And you really want some 8x10 RC around for initial contact sheets, especially if you sleeve your negs and use binders or folders, so you can keep a contact sheet with its associated roll of film.

 

[Nerotheroman]

Good morning,
thanks for your reply M Carter!

Just did a quick search the Adorama webpage.
The paper is cheaper then the one I posted, but
with shipping it will be the same price.

Thanks for the 8x10 advice! Haven't thought of contact sheets so far.
Okay I'm shooting 6x7 rollfilm, 4x5 and 13x18 only, so that would be at least useful
for 6x7.

Best wishes

 

[M Carter]

Yep, shipping will make a big difference, but every region likely has more of a "student" paper... I was surprised how good the Adorama paper turned out to be.

People here had speculated Adorama was buying up oddball papers or close to expiry stock; someone posted a communication with an adorama rep who said they're taking their house branded products very seriously and we could expect good quality and batch-to-batch conformity.

 

[Nerotheroman]

Wrll apparently Adox is something like a house brand for some of the german
photographic stores. I just ordered a batch of RC and fiber based paper.
I think I'm in New York this autumn, then I will
get some paper there and see of I like it

Best wishes !

 

[jvo]

don't know where you are in germany, you might try to hook up with some other film guys, spend a day watching them work in their darkroom, or see if ilford's local darkroom site to see whose nearby http://www.localdarkroom.com/

welcome to apug.

jvo

 

[Nerotheroman]

Good morning Jim,

I'm from the western part of Germany, so
chances are that I can find some people.

Next week I'll have some lessons in community college hope to find some
personal coaching there

 

[GKC]

Setting up your first dark room is great fun! Enjoy!
I've found for a counter, check out used office furniture dealers. Two of the old style two drawer filing cabinets made from sturdy steel--not the tinny stuff they use these days--- with a scavenged solid wood core door across the top makes a really sturdy counter for your enlarger--you can even run the electrical supply cable through the hole the door lock occupied. The filing cabinets offer plenty of useful storage too.
I'm not sure what your laws are in Germany about disposing chemicals but IIRC, jnanian who posts here offers a device for extracting silver from your spent chemicals which might keep you in the good graces of the environment people.

 

[Nerotheroman]

Good morning GKC,

Thank you it really is a lot of fun!
Slowly I come closer to the point where I actually have
everything what I need to get going
Exciting! Office furniture is great advice! Just bought some
cabinets off of Ebay. The enlarger is due to arrive at my place at the 22nd
of march.

Well as for chemical disposing, I so far collect the waste
material and bring it to our City waste destructor. There they
get rid of it for you. They told me, that they use specific processes,
to not damage the environment. So that will be my way to go in the future