RA-4 Alternative to Fuji CA?

NJH · Nov 28, 2017

Thanks Steve & Pentaxuser, I would like to buy something 10x8 or smaller from them so I can use the Kodak paper with Portra.

pentaxuser · Nov 28, 2017

As one who has bemoaned the fact that there is no 5x7.5 to cover 35mm full frame I suppose that 2 x 6 x9 from a sheet of 12 x9.5 isn't bad with only a small amount of waste

If I were still a regular RA4 user I'd want to contact Nordfoto and ask the question about the lack of 5x7

pentaxuser

Berri · Nov 28, 2017

DREW WILEY said:
I am probably one of the very few people properly equipped to do high-quality additive tricolor optical enlargements. But I've never bothered. I'm getting outstanding results right onto various Fuji RA4 papers, though some I do have to cut from big rolls. Some images benefit from supplementary unsharp masking to tweak contrast either up or down.

Wher can I find more information on how to make unsharp mask for color printing? What do I need? How long does it take?

pentaxuser · Nov 28, 2017

Berri said:
Wher can I find more information on how to make unsharp mask for color printing? What do I need? How long does it take?

I can be as guilty of this as anyone but this question takes us a long way from the original thread and might be worth a thread by itself

pentaxuser

Berri · Nov 28, 2017

pentaxuser said:
I can be as guilty of this as anyone but this question takes us a long way from the original thread and might be worth a thread by itself

pentaxuser

Isn't your post already taking us away from the topic? You didn't add anything to the OP's question...a link would have been sufficient.

pentaxuser · Nov 28, 2017

Berri, I did not make my suggestion to start an argument, simply to recognise that there may follow from your question a useful thread in its own right but unless it is labelled differently then anyone else in the future wishing to research unsharp masking for colour printing may not find the information as it will be hidden under this thread

I will leave it that that

pentaxuser

1kgcoffee · Nov 28, 2017

For unsharp masking, here is a link to Cteins book 'post exposure' which the author has previously agreed to share freely. It is no longer in print. I believe you can find some valuable information there.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uULDgnuJHi6ZQuSRyQhRCBtKsGI7De3k

I have found the link on this website and mirrored it for all.

I would also recommend looking up Timi Hall on Youtube, who bares a strange resemblance to Ctein in his knowledge of masking.

twelvetone12 · Nov 29, 2017

BTW is there a place that sells cut Fujiflex CA paper? I would love to try it but a 50m roll is too much for me.

AgX · Nov 29, 2017

I would be surprised if there is.
By the way, the smallest roll width is 76cm.

twelvetone12 · Nov 29, 2017

Maybe I should get a roll and sell sheets then

BMbikerider · Dec 7, 2017

pentaxuser said:
A fellow member of a U.K. site uses rolls of Kodak paper and does all his prints optically. He made his own dispenser so he can cut the rolls into sheets He has no problems with casts etc The paper behaves perfectly

pentaxuser

There is a very minor problem, but one that can be overcome easily and that is it seems to be more sensitive to my DUKA safelight. I have had to adjust the output down by about 5% and re position the light higher up on the wall and reflect the light off the ceiling directly behind where I stand when enlarging. Otherwise everything is as normal as before.

BMbikerider · Dec 7, 2017

twelvetone12 said:
Maybe I should get a roll and sell sheets then

Without the dispenser I feel that this will be a lot more difficult/awkward than it suggests. I cut a 12" wide roll into 12x16 sheets about 20 at a time and further cut them down as and when I need to. (usually 10x12 and the remainder is cut up for test strips) Without a dispenser and a guillotine getting the paper to an accurate size is actually quite difficult because of the curl of the paper caused when it is in the roll.

halfaman · Dec 7, 2017

I have tried all RA-4 papers that Nordfoto has for sale and my favourite is Fuji CA DPII. Standard Fuji CA is too soft for my taste, Kodak Endura has very nice pastel tones but contrast is still too low.

DREW WILEY · Dec 9, 2017

Frankly, there is zero published information on color neg unsharp masking using specifically current films and papers. And I know only two people (including me) routinely doing this. But the punch and register equipment involved is no different than that used for many decades for various processes. It's an acquired skill just like printing itself, and can be either as simple or sophisticated as you wish to make it.

RA-4 Alternative to Fuji CA?

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