Darkroom Questions

greenspun.com : LUSENET : B&W Photo - Film & Processing : One Thread

I am brand new to dark room photography and I have tons of questions. Some of my questions I've managed to answer through reading but I haven't gotten answers to these.

First, is there any disadvantages to developing a colour negative in black and white. For example do you lose contrast etc.

Second, I bought a good thermometer which has a light sensative head so that it glows in the dark like a watch. Can this glow be a cause for fogging? So far I've had no problems but I wonder whether I could use this type of tape to let me find objects when it's completely dark, such as light switches or say the Fstop on my enlarger.

Thanks

-- Shelley Levine (shelleylevine@hotmail.com), June 05, 2001

Answers

Question 1: I guess you mean making a B+W print of a color negative. Tonality is only correct when using photograpic paper designed for this type of print (panchromatic paper as Kodak Panalure). Contrast should be good, but it's an expensive paper. Normal printing papers as Ilfords MGIV Wartone demand a high contrast grade due to the orange contrast mask. Quesion 2: Non-red lights might always be a cause for fogging, so keep the illumination away from unexposed paper. Generally I don't think it might harm. Just use a good safe light.

-- Marc Leest (mmm@n2photography.com), June 05, 2001.

First, is there any disadvantages to developing a colour negative in black and white. For example do you lose contrast etc.

I too think you really mean printing colour negs on b&w paper (see Marc's answer), but if you really mean what you say I would ask why do you want to do this? It's not something you should start mucking around with at 1st. Having done this (just to see what would happen) recently and the results of Fuji Superia 400 in Ilford LC29 B&W developer were HIGH contrast negs with extremely dense orange mask, however it could be scanned and printed thru. I exposed it at 400asa and metered with the camera and exposure wise, they don't seem to bad!

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), June 05, 2001.


bugger!

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), June 05, 2001.

testing...

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), June 05, 2001.

nope, not going to go away.. I give up! sorry!

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), June 05, 2001.


Color film developed in B&W chemistry isn't very printable due to the depth of the mask left over: your printing times will easily be 10x those of a B&W negative and image definition appears to suffer.

Color negatives printed on B&W paper can work quite well depending on the image, but often require lots of work (split printing, etc.). For some negatives, papers specially designed for this purpose are definitely better.

-- John O'Connell (boywonderiloveyou@hotmail.com), June 06, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ