Poll: Isn't Printing the Greatest Thing?

Poll: Isn't Printing the Greatest Thing?

  • Absolutely !!!!

    Votes: 461 76.6%

  • It's okay, but I hate the chemicals.

    Votes: 41 6.8%

  • No, it's just something you have to do.

    Votes: 26 4.3%

  • Forget about it -- I'm all-digital now.

    Votes: 74 12.3%
  • Total voters
    602
printing is my least favorite part of photography, why the $%&^ isnt paper the same aspect ratio as the images cameras produce? I know I know cropping and what not, but to hell with that, whens that last time someone tried to print a 35mm or 6x6 in a 8x10 and wanted the entire thing only to find they were stupid and cut off part of your image?

that said in the darkroom what I really dislike is that papers in china suddenly got very hard to find and went up in price, a2 sizes ilford 10 sheet is 90 dollars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
The one gripe I have with my darkroom setup, is the setting up of the blackout materials. But as the bathroom/darkroom overlooks the back garden of a family who have a "Bright as day 'burglar light'", I can't take any chances.
 
I actually had a bad experience the last time I was in the darkroom. It just seemed like nothing would go well, none of my prints looked right, and then I ran out of paper. :bang:

I switched to the "mystery" papers that came in the paper safes I bought. That was a mistake which only served to heighten my frustration. Yesterday I bit the bullet and bought another 100-sheet box of fresh paper of a known type. Let's hope next time goes better.
 
I had a similar problem last time I printed. It looked like every box of paper I tried was fogged, maybe it was bad developer. Im not sure....but I was so frustrated I havent gone back in there for a while. So I think I'll be buying new paper and chemicals and basically start over.
 
Yeah, I love it too. The problem is that it takes so long to get anything accomplished. I don't mind spending the time, but my wife misses me and there are so many other things that can be done in the time it takes to make a handful of good prints.

I love it, it is just a matter of budgeting the time for it. I've found that to do a good job with digital editing doesn't take any less time.

+1 on the light-blocking setup. That was the most frustrating part for me. Once I figured out why my prints had no contrast, it was much better.
 
Before you assume it's defective paper check your darkroom for leaks, and especially your safelight for cracks or leaks.
 
For me printing is the root of the process and it helps keep me grounded in what i do. I seem to spend a lot of time in Bangkok scanning, captioning and cloning out dust on neg scans. Back in the UK i can concentrate on making prints and seeing results that for me have a much greater longevity. It is however a very long and expensive process that requires a great of deal of patience on my part. Fortunately i keep detailed notes to short cut some of the leg work but as papers and emulsions change i'm constantly adjusting and rewriting my print notes. I also find it helps to concentrate my thoughts about my work unlike my time spent on my computer....which gives me a head and neck ache....
 
BJ Bignell said:
I actually had a bad experience the last time I was in the darkroom. It just seemed like nothing would go well, none of my prints looked right, and then I ran out of paper. :bang:

I switched to the "mystery" papers that came in the paper safes I bought. That was a mistake which only served to heighten my frustration. Yesterday I bit the bullet and bought another 100-sheet box of fresh paper of a known type. Let's hope next time goes better.
Click to expand...


My proposal for the owner of a 100 sheet box goes as follow:

a) Do not use any more paper unsafes.

b ) When printing pick each sheet from the box.

c) In order to prevent light accidents when using the box, leave most of the sheets inside the box but within the black plastic.

d) Most important of all, at the end of each printing session stick 2 pieces of masking tape to two opposite sides of the box, insinuating yourself for the next time, "this box contains unprinted sheets"

Thus you will ever know what paper is inside the box: the one that came with the box .

Cheers,
Ruben
 
i remember printing in my classroom and being amazed at what i had accomplised....

developng rocks its all part of the process...

i wish i could do it now but no....


if you have the oppurtunity... do it....

chemicals smell great!
 
Yes. In fact I just came out from my darkroom!

Printing and the rangefinderforum, probably the two greatest things on earth =).
 
I am an absolute beginner.

I joined a weekend workshop a week ago, got totally addicted, picked up a complete darkroom on ebay for 100 euros today and will have changed our second bathroom into a darkroom by the end of the week. :D
I cant wait to get started.

Finally time to say goodbye to "pushing PS buttons":D
I feel so free it is unbelievable.
There is no computer or any other person involved in my photography from the click of the shutter till the final print.


Fabian
 
I'm afraid with the amazing results I'm getting on Museo Silver Rag and my 2200 my wet darkroom printing days are over. Everyone's I've shown prints to using this paper in the last couple of months think they are traditionally printed fiber prints. Gorgeous.
 
Absolutely hate the thought of printing - only took up photography when digital came of age! Without digital, I wouldn't have bothered taking up photography, and stuck with sketching and painting!

Not sure why this is. Impatience is a large part, plus I prefer colour images to B&W.

I should enjoy messing about in the darkroom as I've a degree in chemistry, and could concoct all sorts of wierd and wonderful developers ... if were interested.
 
I'm looking forward to printing real soon...It's the bonus after shooting and then developing "Film"...
I have several rolls of 35mm and 120 that I developed last week that should produce some nice photos...
 
The other is hanging up to dry a freshly developed roll of E6 transparencies, looks like a jeweled necklace!! I never tire of it!!
 
i live on the top floor, every room has at least 2 windows, including that of bathroom-:) totally no way to setup a light-proof printing room. should i buy a house with basement first-:) damn, photography is getting more and more expensive...-:)
 
Actually, for some strange reason, I'm beginning to prefer developing only.

... with Adox APH09 as well.
 
I've got RA4 chemistry & color paper on the way! I print b&w 2x a week minimum, but I haven't printed color since 1983- this is going to be a blast!
 
I have no idea why, but everytime I get out of the darkroom, this thread coincidently gets bumped up (presumably because someone votes on the poll)! Haha
 
I love printing! It really allows me to spend time creating the final image, recreating it to something that I didn't see before. I am not sure if this helps anyone, it deciding whether or not to print, but my method has been to select a the images that I am interested in on the contacts and print them first on 8x10 RC paper. I can generally print about 40 different images in hour--keep in my mind that these are rough prints with a general exposure and a general grade.

I will review them and then selectively choose certain ones for fiber base printing, but I have found that this is a pretty quick process that allows me to view the images first, and at a decent veiwing size. I have also found that this is quicker, for me anyway, than scanning than scanning the images, which is about 5-10 an hour in comparison.

Generally, in an average printing session, it takes me an hour to set up, and if I print for about three or four hours I can get 90 - 100 8x10 RC prints printed. As stated before, I will then select the most interesting images and print fiberbase my next printing session. I have found that this saves me a lot of time, and allows me to still print, but be able to do other things as well.

Happy printing everyone . . .
 
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