Positive paper

Jon Allen · May 8, 2017

Hi, I am new to pinhole photography and have just bought a zero image 5x4 camera.
Does anyone know where I can buy positive paper from in the UK.
I have searched on here as well as googled but can't find any in stock or info on where to buy.
Any help will be very much appreciated as well as any tips on on using the camera especially shooting portraits.

Edit. Just found this. Would this be OK to use. https://shop.lomography.com/en/imago-positive-paper

pdeeh · May 8, 2017

It's showing out of stock at harmanexpress.com so you may be out of luck until they do another coating run.
Still, worth ringing round the usual suspects to see if they have any eg silverprint,ag photo, process supplies, speedgraphic, imaging warehouse etc

Or just use ordinary enlarging paper to create negatives and then make contact prints off those. Cheaper,and offers the advantage of rendering the image the "right way round".

Loads of threads at apug to help you with making contacts.

Good luck

pdeeh · May 8, 2017

As for the Imago stuff, i don't think there's any reason not to try it. I haven't used it but again there's a few threads here if you search

Jon Allen · May 8, 2017

Thank you for your help pdeeh. I will have a look for the threads on contacts as well as the other paper.

Peter Schrager · May 8, 2017

it might seem silly but I think Freestyle has it in stock

pdeeh · May 8, 2017

It's not silly but the shipping costs plus the
Import duty plus the vat plus the import duty + vat collection charge make the resulting price silly :-o
(I've had stuff from freestyle to UK and while the process was easy the price got stupid)

Jon Allen · May 8, 2017

pdeeh said:
It's not silly but the shipping costs plus the
Import duty plus the vat plus the import duty + vat collection charge make the resulting price silly :-o
(I've had stuff from freestyle to UK and while the process was easy the price got stupid)

It's a shame we get hit so hard with taxes.

Thanks anyway Peter.

Where is the cheapest place to buy the paper for contact prints. Would you be able to add links to the papers and gear I may need if you get a chance. I'm also going to make my own developers as it sounds fun and be a cheap way to start off.

pdeeh · May 8, 2017

Have a look at the sticky by Michael_r at the top of the black and white forum here at apug - "kodak and ilford resources"
Which should give you all you need to know.
There are literally hundreds of threads to look at on the subject of what developing gear to buy & setting up a basic darkroom.
As far as paper goes, look at the vendors I listed. Prices are much of a muchness. To get going "cheaply", just Buy the cheapest paper. These days there are no bad papers if there ever were.

Tbh when u ask a question like this at apug you will get a deluge of suggestions, all meant sincerely, and many of which will be contradictory and/or suggesting you need things you don't need.

So good luck again!

Ps: my suggestion? Keep it simple as you can

Pioneer · May 8, 2017

Galaxy still appears to be making this. It is available in the US at B&H and Adorama so it may be available in your neck of the woods. I don't know how it compares in price with what Lomo is selling but Adorama has it for 1$ per sheet of 4x5.

pdeeh · May 8, 2017

Galaxy is not a direct positive paper though, Dan.
It's a fast negative paper sold as suitable for using with a reversal process.(develop, bleach, reexpose, fix - plus all the the inbetween washes and clearing baths etc)

TheToadMen · May 8, 2017

Jon Allen said:
Hi, I am new to pinhole photography and have just bought a zero image 5x4 camera.

Hello John,
Welcome to APUG!!
Bert from Holland

PittP · May 8, 2017

Jon and pdeeh,
you may find it here: https://www.fotoimpex.de/shopen/photopaper/direct-positive-paper/ (you're still in the EU, so hit and run!)
The Ilford works well; well so-so... somewhat better than century-old Kodak projection positive. But then...
Consider pedeeh's suggestion (negative on -thin RC- paper, contact positive): works much better, i.e. mostly better greyscale, is FAR less finnicky, options for post-exposure, you have the negative (!), and it's even cheaper.
Haven't tried Imago (too expensive).
Good light!
Pitt

pdeeh · May 8, 2017

I've actually got nearly a boxful in a drawer somewhere, now I come to think of it!

Jon Allen · May 10, 2017

Hello to you too Bert. Thanks for the welcome.

Thanks for the link Pitt.

I've decided on using the RC negative paper that you guys have suggested and I also will be keeping it simple as Pdeeh said.

I bought this hope it's the right one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321882187026 and now I need to figure out a cheap and easy way of developing it. I belieave you can do that with coffee, mint and so on. Do it really work?

monst · May 10, 2017

firstcall has lots: http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/paper/direct-positive-paper/c212-all

removed account4 · May 10, 2017

hi jon

just make sure your rc paper doesnt' have a watermark / writing on its reverse side !
it may print onto your image when you contact print.
have fun!
john

ciniframe · May 10, 2017

The OP does realize that with direct positive all his images will be mirror reversed. If there is any printing in the frame it will be backwards. This may not be of concern to him but he should be aware.

Jon Allen · May 11, 2017

monst said:
firstcall has lots: http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/paper/direct-positive-paper/c212-all

Thank you for the link

jnanian said:
hi jon

just make sure your rc paper doesnt' have a watermark / writing on its reverse side !
it may print onto your image when you contact print.
have fun!
john

Hi John, just asked the shop as I'm still waiting for it in the post and they said it doesn't. Thank you for that.

ciniframe said:
The OP does realize that with direct positive all his images will be mirror reversed. If there is any printing in the frame it will be backwards. This may not be of concern to him but he should be aware.

I didn't so I'm glad I've gone for the negative paper as suggested on here . Thank you for pointing that out.

The shop told me I wouldn't be able to make a positive print from it but I can scan it and do it that way. Have I missed something as I thought I would be able to make a print from it in the way of contact printing.

pdeeh · May 11, 2017

Yes, they are talking what we amongst the cognoscenti call "bollocks".
It's a lack of understanding. You can perfectly well contact print from a paper negative. The printing times are just a bit longer.

Sorry I should have been clearer in pointing out the mirror image issue rather than just referring to "the right way round" in my earlier post.

Jon Allen · May 11, 2017

pdeeh said:
Yes, they are talking what we amongst the cognoscenti call "bollocks".
It's a lack of understanding. You can perfectly well contact print from a paper negative. The printing times are just a bit longer.

Sorry I should have been clearer in pointing out the mirror image issue rather than just referring to "the right way round" in my earlier post.

Haha. I'm glad its a load of bollocks.

I'm just ordering a Paterson safe light, paper cutter and trays at the moment. But I need to keep the cost down for now to keep the wife happy. Can I use coffee and other kitchen stuff to develop for now and maybe move onto proper chemicals later on.
I'm also going to make a homemade enlarger. I think by going down the diy route I will find it enjoyable as well as interesting and I will have a more understanding of how things work.

pdeeh · May 11, 2017

You can use coffee and other stuff. Google for the Caffenol Cookbook and look at caffenol.blogspot.co.uk/

Small word of caution. Caffenol will definitely develop paper, but it was intended to develop film. It is by no means optimal for developing paper, and you might find you get more consistent early results by stumping up for - say - a bottle of ilford universal developer.

Sometimes when starting out its better to have at least a couple of known variables in your process rather than nearly everything subject to question! That way if (probably when) you get a problem, it makes troubleshooting much simpler.

On the other hand, i have to admit I got going in developing using caffenol against the well meant advice of some old and respected hands at apug, and never had a problem.

There are a few threads on making your own enlarger. Generally the advice given is don't bother, but why not say I? Having said that, I've picked up 3 good enlargers for nothing from freecycle locally ...

Also you don't need an enlarger to make contacts, just a diffuse light source that's easily switched on and off - a 40w incandescent bulb for instance. (fluoro or energy saver bulbs are a pain because they don't come on instantaneously; leds probably OK)

Jon Allen · May 11, 2017

Many thanks for all your help and tips pdeeh, it's very much appreciated.

I am not only doing this for myself but also for my three children who are 8,10 and soon to be 13. I want to show them the magic of film photography from making a pinhole camera to developing an Image they have taken.
I started off with a Polaroid (still have one, a 680 and love emulsion lifts)when I was about 13 (1983) and was always fascinated by photography from back in the 70,s from family members using 6x6 or the Polaroid camera.
I wish I had not been put off by the teacher at the collage when I went to look at the photography course, who said there was no money in it as a career. I did want a career and earn money but I also wanted to learn the full art of photography. Sadly I didn't take the course as I needed to think of my future.
I still kept taking photos (most have long gone due to fire) and back in 2003 I moved on to digital and took to the art of digital photography and editing. It was a Canon 300D and I still use it today now and then when I have some concept ideas I want to capture. Although I enjoyed digital especially the editing and studio lighting part I still don't feel like a photographer until I have learnt the art of developing.
A few years ago I went back to film as I missed the look of film and also I started to get lazy with with my photography and started to get into that mode, I'll fix it in photoshop. . Glad I went back to it as it's slowed me down now and made me think before I press the shutter, especially with the price of film these days. My wife doesn't get why I've gone back to film though as she loves my editing, digital concept and portrait work. She doesn't see the look or skill involved with film.

Sorry for the waffle . Just thought I would give you an idea of where I'm at with photography.

pdeeh · May 11, 2017

Do feel free to paste all that into a new thread in the "introduce yourself" subforum.

I spent nearly 40 years shooting film while never entering a darkroom. Then a few shooting digital, then film took my fancy again.
So I guess I know where you're coming from!

Jon Allen · May 11, 2017

I'll do just that Pdeeh.
Yep sounds similar.
I still like editing in PS so I guess I can mix the two especially when I get a good scanner as the one I have now isn't that great.

Positive paper

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