Eastgreenlander Posted February 9, 2011 Share #1 Posted February 9, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I know absolutely nothing about wet printing but I want to try it. I have a enlarger at my disposal, from a friend. Can any one point at a resource or even better, explain the steps? I tried to Google wet printing but didn't have any luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Hi Eastgreenlander, Take a look here Wet printing, where to begin?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
tgray Posted February 9, 2011 Share #2 Posted February 9, 2011 I'd pick up one of the following books: The Craft of Photography - David Vestal - Excellent, out of print, and cheap. B&W photography - Henry Horenstein - $20, somewhat basic, but a very understandable intro Way Beyond Monochrome - New edition out, about $60, but LOADED with great information. I'm working my way through it now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted February 9, 2011 Share #3 Posted February 9, 2011 As tgray posted. See it here. Highly recommended. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
too old to care Posted February 9, 2011 Share #4 Posted February 9, 2011 This will give you an idea. and There are a bunch of other examples on youtube. I bet if you ask around someone you know can also show you how. It is simple. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted February 9, 2011 Share #5 Posted February 9, 2011 Hi It is rewarding, simple but not easy. After you have read al the books gathered all the bits and are ready for the first print you need to pick a nice negative with some contrast but not too much and try a small enlargement, by way of a test strip and then a print to calibrate any exposure meter you may have. You need to not snatch the print from the soup, the blacks need to be real black under the safe light. You need to fix, wash, and dry and then spot any dust spots etc. HCB needed one of the best fine art printers in France to justice to his negatives, well salvage them. You can spend years printing to get to that sort of level. But nice negatives should print eaily on variable contrast (VC) paper/plastic base. So your first step is to shoot the nice negatives on retained silver film or Fugi or Ilford C41 mono, Kodak C41 is difficult you dont need any exrra difficulty. If you have one of the enlarging meters or VC split grade systems that simplifies the exposure contrast step, but takes away some of the fun. Noel P.S. wear rubber gloves and use tongs when wet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted February 9, 2011 Share #6 Posted February 9, 2011 ...Tasiilaq? Had to look it up - brilliant. I'd like to recommend the "Ilford Monochrome Darkroom Practice: A Manual of Black and White Processing and Printing" by Jack H. Coote, if you can get hold of a copy. Suitable from starter to hardnut level, with "Sesame Street" illustrations for unabashed simpletons like me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted February 9, 2011 Share #7 Posted February 9, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Xmas' post nudges me to repeat - make small prints at first because they are econmical and can give you a feel for tones. Move up to prints on 8x10 and you will likely see a huge change in rendering, and the challenge is heightened. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lns Posted February 9, 2011 Share #8 Posted February 9, 2011 Ilford (ilfordphoto.com) has a lot of helpful and free information on its website. Click on "Applications" to find articles about developing and printing black and white photos. I also can recommend the Horenstein book as a really good starter text. -Laura Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted February 9, 2011 Share #9 Posted February 9, 2011 I just want to chime in again. There's a lot of great info on the net, and Way Beyond Monochrome is awesome. But the Vestal book can be purchased used for as little as 28 cents on Amazon. It's really a great book and he covers a lot of good stuff in a no nonsense way. I'd really recommend picking it up, reading through it, and then coming here (or APUG or RFF or photo.net) and asking questions with specific problems you are having. I think it really will make things easier for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastgreenlander Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted February 10, 2011 Thanks for the replies. I just bought Way Beyond Monochrome and I am really excited to begin this. I began to develop my own film about two month ago for the first time and I was hooked on analog ever since and I hope wet printing will be just as fun. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotohuis Posted February 10, 2011 Share #11 Posted February 10, 2011 Additional to Way Beyound Monochrome The Film Developing Cookbook - Anchell - Troop (Focal Press). Then you know how to make a choice of type developer too. Greetz, Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpk Posted February 10, 2011 Share #12 Posted February 10, 2011 It's easy if somebody shows you how to do it so you can have a try. A friend helped me to make my first film developement and wet print, after that it was not complicated at all... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotohuis Posted February 10, 2011 Share #13 Posted February 10, 2011 I give seminars. In one day you can learn a lot! Best regards, Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgray Posted February 10, 2011 Share #14 Posted February 10, 2011 Cool that you splashed for Way Beyond Monochrome. It's a great book. And a lot of book for the price, if you ask me. I think you'll like it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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