What is your process for printing large numbers of prints?

[darinwc]

When you need to print a number of prints. For day a print exchange, numbered print run whatever..
Do you have special procedure?
Like do you make all your exposures, then develop. Or do you go the whole process for each print?

 

[frank]

For 8'x10'

I double up the prints and run them through the trays back to back.
Expose 2 sheets, place them back to back, then process them together.
2 sheets stay in the fix while I expose and develop 2 more, back to back.

 

[MattKing]

For small prints, I like to put two prints on the same sheet of paper (think two 5x7s on a single 8x10 sheet). I insert one end of the sheet of the paper into the easel, expose the first print, pull out the sheet, put the other end into the easel, then expose the second print. I stick a piece of card stock or manilla envelope to the easel to make sure there is no unwanted exposure.
I print a few at a time and use a paper safe to hold them. Then I batch process them using a combination of shuffling and the "back to back" processing that frank describes above.
The amount I process at any one time depends on how much developer I have in what size tray, and how dexterous I happen to feel that day .
I'm much more likely to wear nitrile gloves when I do this, rather than relying only on tongs.

 

[removed account4]

hi darinwc:

whenever i print lots of the same print, no matter the size ( 4x5 contacts to 8x10 enlargements )
i get my time and burning and everything else figured out, and i make sure i have a large enough
tray to do a batch of between 10 and 16 prints. i make my exposures and put the prints in between my fingers back to back ( like frank said )
emulsion side out in BOTH hands ... then at the same time i submerge my hands in the developer and pinky side down first then thumb side and releasing
the prints careful not to scratch them once they are all in the developer they will all develop at about the same time. and i pull them all out at once.
when i was printing a lot like this we had tray rockers, they made a lot of noise but they allowed me to make consistent prints that were pretty much identical.
if you don't have tray rockers make sure you agitate your test print ( the one that you got your times and dry down right for ) the same way as your multiples.
when i was doing lab work for a portrait photographer sometimes i had to process hundreds like that ( once 500 prints ) after the prints came out of the fix and wash
the trick was to have enough room to let them dry. we used ( and i still use ) string and clothespins and hang them by a corner to let them dry. it usually doesn't take long
if they are RC prints and you squeegee'd them off first, even if you didn't squeegee them ( i use a windshield wiper ) rc prints drip dry in no time... i've never exposed
lots and lots and lots and them chugged through the chemistry, always seemed like a recipe for disaster ... oh, fiber prints get the same treatment processing wise
but i limit to maybe 2 runs or 1 run because i don't want the prints hanging out in fixer for too long, and even if you use a circulating water bath as a holding bath
between1st and 2nd fixing ( i use 2 fixer baths ) or before fixer remover/final wash, it still ends up a low concentration fixer bath ...

have fun!
john

 

[mwdake]

For 8x10 prints, I expose 2 then develop and fix at the same time.
I find that 2 8x10 prints fix sideways in my 12x16 trays; a bambo tong that rests in one of groves and keeps the prints separated.

 

[Peter Schrager]

All good advice. ..you should be able to copies easily..
Don't forget your lightsource...will heat up..let it cool down and keep adding developer to the tray to keep the same potency..I usually know by how it takes for the image to appear. .I ONLY DO 1 PRINT AT A TIME...for fixing/toning 2 at a time...

 

[ic-racer]

I never considered my own B&W photography an instrument for the production of a 'large number of prints.' Like trying to make a large number of oil paintings or bronze sculptures.

 

[Mick Fagan]

I’ve done a fair bit of multiple printing work, and I am currently in the middle of a print run of 80 5x8” prints from a 135 negative and 40 8x10” prints from a 4x5 negative. I’m checking the forum after stopping for lunch, dropping the developer bath and replacing with fresh chemicals and awaiting it to get to the correct temperature.

There are a couple of ways to do what you ask, mostly everyone has answered pretty much with what I do. The one thing I have found to be good, is to ensure you develop to completion (within reason that is). By doing this, you can leave prints a little longer, or at least near the longest time required to ensure your development is really good.

The one thing you may have issues with is inconsistency from print to print, or batch to batch. To alleviate this as much as possible, I endeavour to expose a sheet of paper for each lot of 10 prints I’m doing. These are a control set of pre-exposed paper. I develop the first sheet, hopefully I’m satisfied; I then do the next 9 sheets from the paper box keeping the original control print fully developed and dried, to one side.

After the first 10 sheets are done, I then do the next sheet from the original 10 control print exposures. I finish this and put it alongside the original, hoping that it will be the same, or as near as possible to the same as the first control print. If the second control print is good, then I’m off like a rocket on fire.

I have currently finished the 40 8x10” prints, after lunch the 80 5x8” prints will be coming off the production line.

I’m doing RC and I have a paper dryer. Did I mention I am also using my Durst paper processor?

Regardless of whether or not you use a roller transport paper processor, or process by hand in trays/dishes, running a control print at intervals has always served me well.

Mick.

 

[MattKing]

Mick's points are really good. One thing similar that I do (and forgot to mention) is to use a long developing time for my test prints, so I can use the same long time for my final prints. If the manufacturer recommends a range between 45 and 120 seconds, I use 90 - 120 seconds. When you are developing several prints at once, this tends to protect you from inconsistency between the developing of the respective prints.
One other thing to watch out for is latent image degradation. If your prints are going to be developed several minutes after exposure, it is a good idea to wait a couple of minutes after exposure before developing your final tests, and to try to ensure relatively consistent exposure to development delays from print to print. This effect seems to vary between papers, and sometimes doesn't seem to appear at all, but if it does appear, then it usually is minimal if you ensure at least a minute between exposure and development for all prints.