Provia and Ilfochrome

Wayne · Mar 18, 2007

I've been out of Ilfochrome printing for a few years but am itching to get back in. I always used Velvia in the past, but experienced a lot of frustration printing it. Although I started to learn contrast masking I'm not good at it by any means, and I prefer not to do it at all. Is Provia any easier to print, or is the difference negligible? I've never even used it.

Wayne

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 18, 2007

I used to print Cibachrome from the old Agfachrome 100, which was a fairly low contrast film with a pastel palette, and it printed beautifully with no contrast masking. Here's an example, printed in the early 1990s, if I remember correctly--

I think that much of the difficulty that people have with Ilfochrome comes from using contrasty, oversaturated films to begin with. Try Astia. It's probably the closest thing out there to the old Agfachrome 100.

mark · Mar 19, 2007

All of my ilfochromes were originally shot with Provia. I did not print them, but the lab that did, told me they would not have to use a contrast mask.

Lopaka · Mar 19, 2007

The Velvia or Provia and Ilfochrome combination works best in soft lighting situations. Provia is a bet less saturated than Velvia but still quite contrasty and can give you headaches if used in very harsh lighting.

Bob

Wayne · Mar 19, 2007

I did shoot one box of Astia before I stopped printing. Contrast-wise, it showed definite potential, but I didnt care for the color palette as much. I dont know that I gave it a fair try, perhaps I just need to use it more and wean myself off Velvia. I've heard Provia is really good in earth tones though and thats what got me curious about it. I shoot a lot of those. I like Velvia's saturation in that area, but not the contrast.

Got any scans of those Ilfochromes, Mark?

Wayne

davetravis · Mar 19, 2007

Wayne,
Ditto what others have said.
I will add that I print Velvia, Provia, Agfachrome, Kodachrome, Kodak E100, E100S, E100VS, E100G...you get the picture.
To me, they all "print" the same.
I get around contrast masking by doing very detailed burning/dodging. What-ever is in the slide, regardless of it's contrast, can be brought out with today's ciba.
Of course it helps to start with a broad range of values, but in practice I find no difference in printing difficulty between those films I use.
Provia is nearly as contrasty as Velvia, but not as saturated. Today's ciba will still punch the hot colors, but also maintains beautiful whites and blacks.
In general I shoot Velvia when I want maximum heat from ciba, and the others films for the more natural and neutral colors.
Good luck, and get going!
DT

Doyle Thomas · Mar 19, 2007

Lopaka has the head of the nail, contrast at the time of exposure will have more impact than film choice when printing to Ciba. Try masking, you will love the results.

markbb · Mar 21, 2007

I've always found that a well exposed sheet of provia is a snip to print on Ilfochrome. However, anything with 'problems' becomes a nightmare and I usually use other methods that dare not speak their name on here.

Silverhead · Mar 21, 2007

Kodak E100VS should lend itself quite nicely to Ilfochrome. Brilliantly saturated colors but not as over-the-top as the old Velvia could sometimes look like. Definitely contrastier than Astia and probably Provia as well under certain circumstances, though.

Provia and Ilfochrome

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