Newbie to color

photo8x10 · Feb 25, 2009

Dear all,
I've always shooted and printing on black and white, and I'm still doing for a long long time in the future, because my photography is that, but a friend of mine would like a my work in contact but in color. I haven't any knowledge about this kind of process, so here a few questions?

1) What kind of films(I use only 8x10)?

2) Paper(supra endura or Fuji cristal archive Type C)

3) Enlarger with color head or filter?If fthe filter ok could I use the ilfordchrome filter that I had?

4) could in case use the developer of film to extend or contrat the film scale?

Before to accept to do this work, I would like to know if it will possible or try to change his mind to do it in B/W....

Thanks

Stefano

nickandre · Feb 25, 2009

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:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

John Shriver · Mar 1, 2009

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.

PHOTOTONE · Mar 1, 2009

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.

nickandre · Mar 1, 2009

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.

E76 · Mar 1, 2009

John Shriver said:
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.

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.

L Gebhardt · Mar 2, 2009

E76 said:
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.

photo8x10 · Mar 2, 2009

Thanks a lot for all your replies, I've just read the article and it's very interesting.
Now I had lots of information to decide my way on colour. My first step will be to shoot on 8x10 colour and I'll try to developed it, I have a CPE2, so in this case I'm able to try this process, after I'll try to make some prints, before using the filter that I have, if I should decide to dedicate a bit more time on colour to prepare a colour portfolio, I'm quite sure that I'll buy a little enlarger for colour.. I also quite lucky before it's easily to find in Europe this kind of materials(film,paper, chemical). Now I have lots of Black and White prints to do, so I'll pass a bit of time reading all the information that I'm finding on Apug, when I'll have more time I shoot in colour....

Stefano

Newbie to color

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