Uses for old RA4 colour paper?

Nicholas James · Mar 27, 2022

I recently acquired a decent chunk of expired RA4 colour paper. I've tried to do some printing with it but due to the age the colours (particualry white) are very undesirable.

I was just curious as to what experimental techniques I could try with this paper. I was considering Lumen prints but I know they are typically done with B&W paper. (If anyone has any experience with Lumen printing on colour do let me know!)

I also came across this: https://art21.org/watch/new-york-close-up/mariah-robertsons-chemical-reactions/
Which I thought could be interesting to try but I am unsure if the paper needs to be processed after?

Any suggestions welcome

MattKing · Mar 27, 2022

Welcome to Photrio.
What a great question!

koraks · Mar 28, 2022

Nicholas James said:
I also came across this: https://art21.org/watch/new-york-close-up/mariah-robertsons-chemical-reactions/
Which I thought could be interesting to try but I am unsure if the paper needs to be processed after?

Looks like the process of making them actually *is* the processing. I do assume (haven't watched it all) she fixes the prints ultimately to prevent the whites from fading.

Nicholas James said:
I was just curious as to what experimental techniques I could try with this paper.

Solarization (or rather, Sabattier reversal) comes to mind. It tends to have somewhat muddy whites anyway so using old paper for it doesn't hurt too much.

I have a box of old paper here somewhere that I really should take to the trash one of these days. It kind of feels painful, but its yellow whites are really good for nothing. There's no way I am going to waste time on processing 200 sheets of junk with funky alt. processes...

Nicholas James · Mar 28, 2022

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into them.

koraks said:
I have a box of old paper here somewhere that I really should take to the trash one of these days. It kind of feels painful, but its yellow whites are really good for nothing. There's no way I am going to waste time on processing 200 sheets of junk with funky alt. processes...

I think the alternative processes can be quite interesting. If you are planning to bin the paper I'd be happy to purchase some off you and save it going to waste!

koraks · Mar 28, 2022

If you want to pay the shipping costs, it's yours. Let me know; I think I haven't binned it yet; I can give you a quote for the shipping costs. It's only across the Channel so shouldn't be all that expensive (but you never know...)

Nicholas James · Mar 28, 2022

koraks said:
If you want to pay the shipping costs, it's yours. Let me know; I think I haven't binned it yet; I can give you a quote for the shipping costs. It's only across the Channel so shouldn't be all that expensive (but you never know...)

Sure, let me know how much the shipping will be. What size is the paper also?

MattKing · Mar 28, 2022

FWIW, as a new poster Nicholas can't yet start a private Conversation, but koraks can start one and Nicholas can participate - look for a red flag at the top right ilink that says "Inbox".

tbeaman · Mar 29, 2022

How bad is the fog and what color? I see more and more RA-4 handprinting going on Instagram and it seems popular to flash dark creamy highlights into the paper, something that old fogged paper can have built into it.

Posting this for general knowledge in case someone comes in here wondering the same question.

Nicholas James · Mar 29, 2022

tbeaman said:
How bad is the fog and what color?

The paper I'm using is about 20 years old and the whites have turned into a dingy green colour, however this is the result of processing via RA4 machine.

tbeaman · Mar 29, 2022

Nicholas James said:
The paper I'm using is about 20 years old and the whites have turned into a dingy green colour, however this is the result of processing via RA4 machine.

Ah yes well green won’t do for what I was suggesting. Too bad. Some RA-4 paper gets age fog in a cream/yellow/brownish color, which can be pleasing for the right user.

Processing method shouldn’t affect the fog. You’d get the same results regardless.

Nicholas James · Mar 29, 2022

tbeaman said:
Ah yes well green won’t do for what I was suggesting. Too bad. Some RA-4 paper gets age fog in a cream/yellow/brownish color, which can be pleasing for the right user.

I do have a couple more boxes which aren't quite as old so maybe these would be better. What did you mean exactly by 'handprinting'?

tbeaman · Apr 5, 2022

That’s the trendy hashtag term for hand made darkroom prints, to differentiate it from the infernal digital/machines.

Uses for old RA4 colour paper?

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