Printing a B&W Neg Optically on Kodak Metallic Paper

[Eric Jones]

Has anyone printed on Kodak Endura Metallic paper using B&W Negs optically? I have a liitle personal project that I'm going to do and wanted to stay traditonal. I have access to a color enlarger and RA-4 processor but would like to avoid a steep learning/experimental curve. Does anyone have any tips on a way to approach this?

 

[celluloidpropaganda]

I never tried it, but one of my professors recommended sandwiching a piece of clear color neg (orange base) with the B&W.

 

[roteague]

Has anyone printed on Kodak Endura Metallic paper using B&W Negs optically? I have a liitle personal project that I'm going to do and wanted to stay traditonal. I have access to a color enlarger and RA-4 processor but would like to avoid a steep learning/experimental curve. Does anyone have any tips on a way to approach this?

No, but I believe that Kodak has a couple of RA4 papers designed specifically for printing B&W.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/papers/portraBW/portraBW.jhtml?id=0.1.20.14.24.34&lc=en

 

[Eric Jones]

I wanted to print specifically on the Endura Metallic paper because it fits the "vision" of my project where the subject has lots of shinny shimmering surfaces that would pop off that paper. I often print on this paper in color and B&W digitally but was going to try it traditionally. I do plan on testing this out though and will report back my experience but if others may have tried this on any color paper please chime in.

 

[Helen B]

On a few occasions I've printed B&W MP neg on colour MP print film. The only thing that needed attention was the gamma to which the B&W neg was developed - so my recommendation is simply to experiment with different neg development times (ie increase) to get the right gamma match. Using a piece of orange-masked blank neg film in the light path upstream of the neg (not sandwiching it with the neg) is a good idea - we used a piece of 5-4 (not 4x5, because we did it in the UK).

Best,
Helen

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Have you tried Cachet Expo AG, which is a RC B&W metallic paper? I got some for one print that I think it will work for (a big pipe organ), but haven't had a chance to print it yet. That would give you a way to get the metallic effect on a true B&W gelatin silver paper and would avoid the B&W->RA4 issues.

I'm not sure what brand this paper is being sold under now. I think it is made by Efke, and I bought it from Freestyle, but I believe that Maco sold it under their brand for a while, and I'd imagine J&C can get it, but it may not be on their stock list.

 

[Bob Carnie]

You should run into no problems with this workflow. Others have given good suggestions , basically you are changing the filters to give a good black
I have always found that a very slight sepia selenium tone is easy to achieve.
good luck

 

[Eric Jones]

Thank you everyone for the input and Thanks David for the tip on the RC B&W Metallic Paper, now that you bring it up I do remember reading some info on it. I'll check out Freestyle.

Thanks Again.