prints?

[mjw]

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i am relatively new to shooting film. i have access to a nice lab that i send my films for developing and have been happy with the result. i usually get them scanned and leave it at that.

 

my question (which may be naive) is...can i create my own prints from these negatives? i would like to experiment with this and don't necessarily know the best way to go about it.

 

i apologize if the question has been addressed before, but i am thankful for your replies.

[edgarangelone]

Of course you can. You can do it in three different ways. The first one, my preference, is to place the negative in the enlarger and make great gelatin silver prints. The second one, is to use your scan images, work them in photoshop and print them with an inkjet print. The last one, use, your scan images, work them in photoshop, create a digital negative, and print them with gelatin silver paper, or alternative process. I hope this help.

 

EA

[mjw]

EA,

 

Thanks for the response. I knew that I could print to inkjet from the scan, but was hoping to make my own 8x10 gelatin silver prints.

 

How in depth is the first option? I would need an enlarger, paper and what else? This is definitely the route that I want to take, but we have a 3 month old and my wife is wondering if I am going to be holed-up in a room making these.

 

If this is too in depth, how does the third option turn out? Which paper would you recommend, etc?

 

Thanks.

[Jeff S]

You haven't gotten much response here because your inquiry is far too broad (and basic, I'm afraid) for folks to jump in. I suggest that before you hole yourself up in a room with an enlarger, you spend time reading materials and searching online for some basic darkroom principles and techniques. The resources are endless...and Google is your friend.

 

This forum also has a search box where you can explore many threads covering a multitude of related topics...darkrooms, films, papers, developers, techniques etc, etc. The same applies to scanning.

 

After you're holed up doing that, then maybe you'll have some more specific issues to address. This forum is a friendly and helpful place, but it pays to help yourself a bit first.

 

Jeff

[topoxforddoc]

Have a look at Ilford's site.

ILFORD PHOTO Website - Applications

 

It's very useful and will give you some basic info & tutorials. Also buy a cheap copy of Michael Langford's Darkroom handbook. There's one on Amazon for 45 cents!

Amazon.com: The Darkroom Handbook (9780394724683): Michael Langford: Books

 

As a minimum you'll need

 

Enlarger plus lens & timer

Ilford Multigrade filters for the enlarger (unless it has a colour or multigrade head)

Developing dishes

Tongs

Thermometer

Grain focusser

Easel

Measuring jugs

Storage bottles

Some stiff card and coat hanger wire (to make masks for dodging and burning)

 

Paper (Ilford Multigrade RC is a good starter)

Chemistry

 

Start with resin coated prints (much easier to handle and wash) and only progress to fibre based paper when you've got the hang of things. Oh and it really is magic!

 

Good luck

[edgarangelone]

EA,

 

Thanks for the response. I knew that I could print to inkjet from the scan, but was hoping to make my own 8x10 gelatin silver prints.

 

How in depth is the first option? I would need an enlarger, paper and what else? This is definitely the route that I want to take, but we have a 3 month old and my wife is wondering if I am going to be holed-up in a room making these.

 

If this is too in depth, how does the third option turn out? Which paper would you recommend, etc?

 

Thanks.

Actually, the first option is probably the easiest and less time consuming. You certainly need some expertise in making inkjet negatives and is more time consuming. If you want to print your own images, you need a number of tools such as enlarger, chemicals, a darkroom, ect and I can go on and on. If you like to do this, I will suggest to take a course in basic development and printing at a community college, otherwise, you will have to read a number of basic books. The technical aspects are fairly easy to learn but hard to master. I want to encourage you to go for it, and learn it. It is going to take sometime away from you family or your sleep, but working your images in front of the computer takes time also. After you learn the basic of development, I believe is going to make you a better photographer as well. So, the time you spend learning all this is worth while. Give your self two to three years (it takes time ) and you will be happy that you learned it. Remember, when your child gets older, he or she will benefit from Dada teaching basic darkroom techniques. Good luck!!

[Xmas]

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EA,

 

Thanks for the response. I knew that I could print to inkjet from the scan

easy option play with kiddy more

EA,

but we have a 3 month old and my wife is wondering if I am going to be holed-up in a room making these.

Your wife perceptive, if you want fine art prints learning how to 'play jazz' with photo shop or an enlarger will take some time, then each print will take time.

 

But you will be in the home on call, for support, not outside somewhere, catching fish, killing small animals, or pickling your liver. Difficult decision for wife I'd say.

 

Noel

P.S. A good silver gelatin will last a while and is real nice.

[FiZZ]

I say go with the dark room option. Maybe there's a college or a studio or art center in close to where you live. A lot of the places I've spoken to let you use the room for a small fee. Start out there to see if you like the process. As said earlier, it IS magic. Once you get a hang of it, you can churn out 10 prints every hour or so. Right now I can do 5 and I'm happy with that, even after 5 years of dark room work. Nothing can compare to a gelatin silver print. You'll cherish even the "bad" prints.

[mjw]

thanks guys.

 

i am starting to check into darkroom offerings at some of the local colleges. i have a friend that says he doesn't use his equipment anymore so i may be able to get that from him if i get serious.

 

thanks for the encouragement and the advice.