First time printer and small prints

[Tim Gray]

I guess I'll be the first to post here. I've been developing in my bathroom for a couple months now. I just started printing in it after Christmas - I picked up an enlarger and trays (big and small) from my friend's mom. It's actually pretty nice - a Minolta Color Mod III enlarger. Anyway, a new lens (Nikon) and several printing sessions later, I have to say that anybody who is thinking of doing this should. It's really a lot of fun and a lot more rewarding (but slower) than working on the computer. I will be picking up a scanner at some point, but that's neither here nor there.

Anyway, I've been doing 8x10 prints for a couple weeks. It's a bit of a pain in the butt in my bath tub, since the 4 trays barely fit. When I got my pack of 8x10 paper, I also picked up a pack of 3.5x5. The enlarger came with a set of smaller trays, about 5x7, so I thought I'd give it a try last night. First of all, the extra room in the tub was nice. But more importantly, the small prints were a lot of fun. Almost more fun that 8x10's.

Certainly small prints aren't right all the time, but bigger isn't always better. You guys should try it out if you haven't.

 

[Biggles]

Try Ilford's resin-coated postcard paper. It's 4" x 6", and it's *thick*. More fun to handle than ordinary single-weight RC papers, and it generally just feels more substantial. I have a blast with the stuff; in an evening, I can easily make a dozen really nice, speckless cards up from one or two negatives. I'l usually mail most of them out, and end up framing the rest in those cheap pre-matted triptych clip-frames from the one-hour.

If you're in England or the US, you should be able to find the stuff mailorder quite easily. (Got mine at B&H in Manhattan.) Sold in boxes of one hundred. Get the glossy.

I should add that unexpected receipt of a nice, hand-made black & white postcard is sure to blow 99.9% of people's minds in this day and age.
I've, uh, noticed that girls seem to like 'em.

And it's so 1940.

 

[JCT]

Try Ilford's resin-coated postcard paper. It's 4" x 6", and it's *thick*. More fun to handle than ordinary single-weight RC papers, and it generally just feels more substantial. I have a blast with the stuff; in an evening, I can easily make a dozen really nice, speckless cards up from one or two negatives. I'l usually mail most of them out, and end up framing the rest in those cheap pre-matted triptych clip-frames from the one-hour.

If you're in England or the US, you should be able to find the stuff mailorder quite easily. (Got mine at B&H in Manhattan.) Sold in boxes of one hundred. Get the glossy.

I should add that unexpected receipt of a nice, hand-made black & white postcard is sure to blow 99.9% of people's minds in this day and age.
I've, uh, noticed that girls seem to like 'em.

And it's so 1940.

Oh, what a super idea! I've been trying to get my teenager to do some printing, she would love this approach.

Thanks!

JT

 

[Tim Gray]

Try Ilford's resin-coated postcard paper. It's 4" x 6", and it's *thick*. More fun to handle than ordinary single-weight RC papers, and it generally just feels more substantial. I have a blast with the stuff; in an evening, I can easily make a dozen really nice, speckless cards up from one or two negatives. I'l usually mail most of them out, and end up framing the rest in those cheap pre-matted triptych clip-frames from the one-hour.

If you're in England or the US, you should be able to find the stuff mailorder quite easily. (Got mine at B&H in Manhattan.) Sold in boxes of one hundred. Get the glossy.

I should add that unexpected receipt of a nice, hand-made black & white postcard is sure to blow 99.9% of people's minds in this day and age.
I've, uh, noticed that girls seem to like 'em.

And it's so 1940.

That was actually the first thing I looked into this morning when I got to "work". I'm going to burn through some more of this 3.5x5 paper first and am planning on placing and order for some postcard paper soon.

I'm definitely going to do it now after your recommendation. Thanks.

 

[Bryce]

I print something like 10 5x7's per 11x14, and very few 8x10's.
I love small prints, viewed in hand with no glass or frame.
I've been using Forte semi matte fiber paper, and it will be a sad, sad day when I run out.
Keep printing!

 

[Samad Asad]

Reading your posts, makes me want to start developing prints again.

I have not processed prints for quite some time already. Hehe, as the folks over here say, "Busy. No time".

I'll find some time this weekend and get my hands wet.