Paper Negatives Question

[jolefler]

I'm approaching this new paper neg adventure cautiously and slowly, but figuring a few things out on my own. From what I've read, I'm guessing I'm using the wrong materials (RCVC paper), but with a 70Y gel in the camera, I'm getting printable negs in the contact mode.

My experience is very limited, but I'd like a few words from you all to know what to expect in the future trials.

My reading has also uncovered a couple of sources saying you can't enlarge paper negs. I haven't been able to find any source saying they DO enlarge paper negs. Although I haven't attempted it yet, why not??? What makes the projected image on the easel any different than a film neg with a heavy diffuser between the light source and the neg? Do you pick up the greatly enlarged shadows of fiber in the paper?

I plan on trying when things slow down some, just wanted your thoughts, thanks.

Jo

 

[Jersey Vic]

Enlarged 8x10 RC print from paper neg (made by contact printing my contact sheet) - 3 or 4 minute printing time but I was using a 15 W bulb and I needed to kill all of the lights to focus:

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

Same process but on 11x14 on Agfa fiber required a 8 minutes ish exposure

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

Here's an article on this idea:

http://www.picture-box.com/as1.html

 

[PVia]

Really? Just put the paper neg in a carrier and go at it???

 

[Jersey Vic]

Also-I shoot 8"x10" and 8"x20" paper negs in camera and develop in film (Hc110 H) or much diluted (1/2 - 1/3 strength) paper developer by inspection. I also find that using a yellow 0 or 1 printing filter in camera works well for the sunny, harsh days and that no filter is necessary on cloudy days. I also found that lith printing is ideal for my paper negtives because of it's inherent ability to control contrast.

Be Well

Victor

 

[Jersey Vic]

Really? Just put the paper neg in a carrier and go at it???

Sure; Maybe it's not the ideal or textbook way to proceed but it worked fine for me. They look great toned too. Like ancient calotypes.

 

[keithwms]

Well... I think the whole reason why some of us do paper negs is so that we can easily retouch at the scale of the final print, and contact print. This allows you to get past issues of paper flatness: you just put your paper neg on top of the paper and throw a pane of glass over that and expose. So... no alignment, no paper curl, no special enlarger or light source required. Once you realize that you can [reversibly] retouch the backside of the paper neg with pencil... well then you see that the possibilities are truly endless.

I haven't enlarged a paper neg myself, I would expect the paper texture to become too dominant, but hey, Vic's stuff looks great. Experiment and enjoy! There is certain kind of creative pleasure that comes when you do something off the beaten path, something which you aren't "supposed" to do....

 

[jolefler]

Nice replies, folks...my gratitude to you all!

I've been shooting paper in my ancient Rolleiflex Standard. After contact printing the product of the camera, I've been delighted with the detail and tones in the print. It was just baffling to read it couldn't be done....glad you all chimed in. Vic, very cool stuff; I wonder how I missed them in the gallery posting.

I own & use an enlarger with a tungsten lamp which yields VERY fast times for my film negs. Usually 8x10's print in 15-20 seconds at f22. Sounds like it may be ideal for this experiment.

Vic, PVia & Keith....thanks for the replies!

Jo

 

[rwyoung]

I suggest you also mosey over to www.f295.org and take a look around. Lots of people over there using paper negs too.

I have done two things (although not lately as I've been too busy with work to get much camera time) about paper negatives. First is use graded RC paper, usually #2. And the second is to pre-flash the paper a bit to move things up the curve just a little bit. That seems to help with the contrast issue.

However I have also had good luck with VCRC paper, mostly the Arista Edu.Ultra (Fomatone I guess) stuff from Freestyle. The use of some scrap #0 printing filter helps as would a standard #8 camera lens filter. Pre-flashing also works on VC paper. One thing I haven't tried during pre-flashing with VC paper is different flash for the high and low contrast emulsions. Wonder if that would work.

 

[Claire Senft]

I have never made a paper negative. Given the warning that I just mentioned, I would expect a glossy RC paper to be more enlargeble than a fiber paper due to the very smooth surface.

 

[Andrew Sanderson]

I have been enlarging from paper negatives for twenty five years and have not had any problems with it. Occasionally one of my students will try the process and try to print with the neg 'image side up' in the carrier, -then exclaim that the process doesn't work!
As long as the image is facing the enlarging lens, then you can achieve very good results. Quality depends on the size of the negative, paper type and contrast.
Some examples on my website if you are interested.

 

[fotch]

Very nice Andrew. I don't know anything about the process however, your photos are inspiring.

 

[jolefler]

WOW! Andrew, beautiful prints. I Have to get going on this project!
Jo