Newbie to color

Stefano, I shoot 8x10 color, and I use Kodak Portra 160NC. It is a neutral color film. The VC type is more vivid in color. Fuji also makes 8x10, it has very good colors, but I don't like it for skin, but some people do. For darkroom printing you may want to use negative film, not the positive film. Printing from positive is very different

You cannot develop it longer for more contrast. It does not act like B&W film at all. Film can be developed at home, but the process and chemicals are very different. See if any labs near you can do C-41 process for 8x10. If you find you do it enough to spend the money to set up a home darkroom for it, then do so.

Printing is very different. You will not use the filters for B&W paper. You will need special printing filters for color paper. A color enlarger head will be easier to use, but very expensive in this size. I am trying to adapt a 4x5 head to a larger film size, but have not finished enough to see if it will work. You will also need filters called Viewing Filters. These help you see what color is too strong in the print, and make corrections.

I scan my film and email it to a company that makes prints for me on Kodak Endura. It is cheaper than I could do it at home with my level of skill. This may be an alternative for you.

Good luck. Ciao!

 

It's easiest to print negative film although impressive slide prints can be made, albeit for a higher cost.

You can use color printing filters. I think it would be easier to pick up a color enlarger or a color head to print with; they're cheap.

Contrast is controlled during exposure or with contrast masking. Overexposure (more than box speed) decreases contrast. Film choice also makes a difference.

This is an article I wrote for starting out in color printing:

http://www.apug.org/forums/forum221/58260-ra-4-printing-200-a.html

 

The Ilfochrome filters will do fine for optical printing.

Supra Endura is the last RA-4 paper Kodak makes that is compatible with optical printing and is available in sheets. (Ultra Endura is now only in long rolls, and the natural color Portra Endura is completely discontinued.) Color printing is relentlessly progressing towards 100% digital.

If you want a natural saturation low-contrast image, you just can't get it anymore in optical printing, since the demise of Portra Endura. Supra Endura has somewhat elevated contrast, and high color saturation. If you want to control contrast, the only way is through a digital darkroom work-flow, scan the film, print digitally on RA-4 or inkjet.

 

If you are making contact color prints from 8x10 color negatives, you can easily use an inexpensive small format color enlarger as a light source. The enlarger does not have to be big enough to make enlargements from 8x10.

 

There are chemical methods to alter the contrast of the developer. Reducing contrast that way is fairly easy. PE could fill you in. It was in a thread a bit back.

 

I wonder if Fujicolor Crystal Archive Super Type P would be a suitable replacement for Portra Endura. Fuji advertises it as a paper specially designed for portraits and it's still available in sheets.

 

Do you know if it is still available in glossy? All I've been able to find lately is luster. I still have some Portra Endura and most of an 8x10 box of Super Type P, but I've been wondering what to get once this stock runs out/expires.