A few piccies with Washi, 120 format roll "film"

Godfrey

Godfrey

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Something a little different today...

I bought a dozen rolls of Washi 120 rice paper film way back in 2014-2015, they have an expiration date of Aug 2016. So I thought I'd shoot a couple of rolls recently then look to see what all I'd done with them.

It's very interesting to see how, roll by roll, the film's behavior changes with the same exactly processing methodology. I've got five or six rolls still in stock ... debating whether to buy some more. I like what this 'film' does but it is a bit unpredictable.


Kitchen Sink - Santa Clara 2021
Hasselblad 500CM + Makro-Planar 120mm f/4 T*
Washi 120 rice paper film


House in Sun - Santa Clara 2024
Perkeo II
Washi 120 rice paper film


Bench in the Sun - Santa Clara 2024
Washi 120 rice paper film
​
Oh yes: the negatives were all scanned with the Leica M10 Monochrom fitted with an Macro-Elmarit-R 60mm f/2.8 lens.

enjoy! G
 
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Godfrey said:
Something a little different today...

I bought a dozen rolls of Washi 120 rice paper film way back in 2014-2015, they have an expiration date of Aug 2016. So I thought I'd shoot a couple of rolls recently then look to see what all I'd done with them.

It's very interesting to see how, roll by roll, the film's behavior changes with the same exactly processing methodology. I've got five or six rolls still in stock ... debating whether to buy some more. I like what this 'film' does but it is a bit unpredictable.


Kitchen Sink - Santa Clara 2021
Hasselblad 500CM + Makro-Planar 120mm f/4 T*
Washi 120 rice paper film


House in Sun - Santa Clara 2024
Perkeo II
Washi 120 rice paper film


Bench in the Sun - Santa Clara 2024
Washi 120 rice paper film
​
Oh yes: the negatives were all scanned with the Leica M10 Monochrom fitted with an Macro-Elmar-R 100mm f/4 lens.

enjoy! G
Click to expand...

This is interesting. Are you scanning with the emulsion towards the camera?

Mike
 
I have scanned Washi negatives in three different ways:

- transmissive, emulsion up
- transmissive, emulsion down
- reflective, emulsion up

All three work and produce different results. Of these three, the sink image was a reflective scan; the other two transmissive, emulsion up. Thinner negs work better with transmissive scanning, denser negs with reflective.

G
 
Interesting, I should have somewhere a couple of rolls bought more or less in the same time, time flies...
 
@Godfrey just been investigating the Washi ‘films’ and there are several emulsions now. Do you know which one you have and how did you process this? I quite fancy having a play sometime!
 
What I have been shooting is the original Washi W (orthochromatic ISO 25) in 120 format.

I process it in Ilford Multigrade paper developer, mixed at 1:9 to working solution, for 3-4 minutes @ 68°F, with a water-only stop rinse, then fix with Ilford Rapid Fixer mixed 1:4 for 8 minutes, six changes of water for wash, and then a final rinse with Kodak Photo-Flo 200. The only daylight tank that I feel is usable is the old KodaCraft 120/35mm "lasagna noodle" tank, otherwise you have to use open tray processing in a darkroom. (The "film" has no structural rigidity once wet, so no spiral tank works. The KodaCraft tank supports the film by letting the base side adhere to the lasagna noodle as the tank fills.)

It's fun stuff! :)

G
 
Godfrey said:
What I have been shooting is the original Washi W (orthochromatic ISO 25) in 120 format.

I process it in Ilford Multigrade paper developer, mixed at 1:9 to working solution, for 3-4 minutes @ 68°F, with a water-only stop rinse, then fix with Ilford Rapid Fixer mixed 1:4 for 8 minutes, six changes of water for wash, and then a final rinse with Kodak Photo-Flo 200. The only daylight tank that I feel is usable is the old KodaCraft 120/35mm "lasagna noodle" tank, otherwise you have to use open tray processing in a darkroom. (The "film" has no structural rigidity once wet, so no spiral tank works. The KodaCraft tank supports the film by letting the base side adhere to the lasagna noodle as the tank fills.)

It's fun stuff! :)

G
Click to expand...

Open tray processing thin paper in 120 format sounds like ‘fun’ - definitely an ortho emulsion is useful by allowing a safelight.

Some of the current emulsions are wider band and they suggest taping theme of the wash to a 120 film to pull it and support it in the spiral - I can imagine all sorts of interesting 🤨 even development artefacts!

Still might be worth a go.

Thanks
 
sojournerphoto said:
Open tray processing thin paper in 120 format sounds like ‘fun’ - definitely an ortho emulsion is useful by allowing a safelight.

Some of the current emulsions are wider band and they suggest taping theme of the wash to a 120 film to pull it and support it in the spiral - I can imagine all sorts of interesting 🤨 even development artefacts!

Still might be worth a go.

Thanks
Click to expand...
(bolded) That is similar to what happens in the KodaCraft processing tank ... as the developer is poured in, the Washi film is sucked onto the plastic lasagna and supported there. I sacrificed one roll at the very beginning of my experimentations to examine what happened when I poured developer into the tank. :)

G
 
I am fairly dying from curiosity - what is Washi film?? How old is it?? Can it still be bought??

Does wasabi play any role in its manufacture or processing?? :sick:

I will now exit the room, or at least this thread...
 
“Wabi-Sabi” is in my opinion the creation and appreciation of the beauty in imperfection. In addition, wabi-sabi is creating things where the final outcome is unknown. When I saw Godfrey’s images, wabi-sabi was the first thing that came to my mind.

Well done, Godfrey, I hope you’ll be posting more of these images.

All the best,
Mike
 
DownUnder said:
I am fairly dying from curiosity - what is Washi film?? How old is it?? Can it still be bought??

Does wasabi play any role in its manufacture or processing?? :sick:

I will now exit the room, or at least this thread...
Click to expand...
The film we’re talking about here is an orthochromatic emulsion coated on rice paper, and made in France by a company calling themselves “Film Washi” Film Washi
They make it in 120 size and 4x5
They also sell various re-packaged emulsions.

Freestyle Photographic sells it here in the ‘states.
I shot a roll of it last year, and just bought a roll and a pack of 4x5
 
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DownUnder said:
I am fairly dying from curiosity - what is Washi film?? How old is it?? Can it still be bought??

Does wasabi play any role in its manufacture or processing?? :sick:

I will now exit the room, or at least this thread...
Click to expand...

pixelated said:
The film we’re talking about here is an orthochromatic emulsion coated on rice paper, and made in France by a company calling themselves “Film Washi” Film Washi
They make it in 120 size and 4x5
They also sell various re-packaged emulsions.

Freestyle Photographic sells it here in the ‘states.
I shot a roll of it last year, and just bought a roll and a pack of 4x5
Click to expand...

@pixelated has it on point. :) The orthochromatic, original is ISO 25 on Kozo paper, "washi 120 W".
Film Washi is still operating, still making this film. It's low volume production, a bit pricey, definitely quirky, takes careful-special processing to work with, and is a lot of fun: a unique image producer.

I just checked my inventory: I have five rolls left. Hmm. At the rate I'm using it lately, I should order another half dozen.

I have more washi photos to render and post, yes... ;)

G
 
Sorry, distracted with other things for a week and some ... not least of which has been the ferocious heat wave we've had going on here in the Bay Area.

But another Washi 120 photo to share today:


Rock, Wall, Vent & Shrub - Santa Clara 2024
Fujifilm GS645S Professional Wide 60
Washi 120 U rice paper film​

Enjoy! G
 
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