Print BW Film on Color Paper

RedSun · Feb 8, 2020

I have some expired color paper Fuji Crystal Archive Super Type C. I just wonder what it looks if I print BW film on it. I can still process with RA-4. I can use with either color head or the VCCE head. I only want B/W prints.

koraks · Feb 8, 2020

RedSun said:
I only want B/W prints.

It's going to be tricky to get the color balance neutral, but you could try. I'd give it a shot with a sheet/strip of developed but unexposed c41 film as a filter below the lens to get in the ballpark and the take it from there.
It'll work best with low contrast b&w negatives as ra4 paper is inherently quite contrasty. Try a negative that prints well on grade 4 or 5 b&w paper.

MattKing · Feb 8, 2020

It would probably be easier to aim for a particular tint than to try for neutral grey.
A warm tone similar to sepia is what I aim for when I have a lab print from a digital black and white file - if the colour is slightly off, it still works.

Martin Rickards · Feb 8, 2020

This was a normal part of the day's work for minilabs working with Ilford XP2 or the now discontinued Kodak BW400CN

koraks · Feb 8, 2020

Yeah, but both of those films were specifically tailored for the purpose, and apparently Kodak's was kind of difficult to print neutrally.

pentaxuser · Feb 8, 2020

My local mini-lab does an excellent job printing from traditional b&w silver halide negatives on RA4 paper but the paper is of course fresh

pentaxuser

koraks · Feb 8, 2020

Are those optical prints? Most labs (mini or otherwise) scan and then expose digitally.

RedSun · Feb 8, 2020

I do not need to have neutral grey. As long as the final prints have some characteristic to it.

I just somehow have more BW films than color films to print.

Print BW Film on Color Paper

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Print BW Film on Color Paper

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