Printing your photos

[gtramctram]

Does anyone make their own prints? I always thought that was the most fun yet I don't see much regarding this issue.

B&W was a hoot. New Mexico is a desert today because of all the trees I used to make prints.

 

[erikhaugsby]

I do--and its usually through B&W processes
(the only exception is when my mom sends my pictures off to online finishers like shutterfly)

Unfortunately, I find that the developers and fixers oxidize (or some chemical change like that) relatively quickly in my darkroom; as such I try to ration my use of the enlarger to only marathon sessions usually lasting 4 or 5 hours.

Shame I can't afford to use it more often.

 

[kaiyen]

There isn't a ton of traditional printing on this forum, true. Tons of information at apug. And I've had a section on printing on my wiki for a while but no one has offered to populate it.

allan

 

[gtramctram]

enlarger etc

enlarger etc

along with a lot of rangefinder equipment, I have all the gear for a darkroom. I haven't done this since college but it was always a lot of fun. I had an eccentric unclel who thought he had to have all this gear. The enlarger etc has never been out of the box. What a character he was.

I think I will learn to do this again. Heck, I might be good, who knows? lol

 

[kaiyen]

Just remember - as with anything, practice makes perfect. You have to work on it to make good prints. And even more so for great prints.

allan

 

[LazyHammock]

I print b&w in the darkroom - nothing quite compares to watching a silver gelatin print appear in the tray. I never got the same thrill from my inkjet! I'm heading into the darkroom this evening - wish me luck!
Nick

 

[f8&go]

Did black & white darkroom ages ago.

Wish I could now.

My sole suggestion: I learned that, even with
as small a format as 35mm, using a "half-glass"
negative holder made for much sharper prints.

This may mean finding some "anti-newton" glass
(I did so years ago) and rigging it to your existing
carrier on TOP of the neg. between it & the light source.
Don't need anything on the underside of 'cause the neg.
curls toward the heat.

This makes for more cleaning hassle but you may find
it's worth it where sharpness counts. Just my two bits
for your consideration.

Thanks for letting me blather.