Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/08/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have been doing color printing since 1980. Currently, I have given up slides and am printing just color negatives. Some people might disagree with this opinion, but I have found the actual processing to be quicker and easier than processing black and white, using the Tetenal room temperature kit (imported to U.S. by JOBO) and just processing in trays. The RA-4 paper appears to have a thin emulsion that develops essentially to completion in the prescribed time, so that reasonable amounts of over development are harmless. I use 8 x 10 trays with 500 ml of solution for the developer and bleach-fix. I use a big tray for the stop bath since this stuff is cheap, and that way, I don't have to be dexterous in getting the wet print into this bath in the dark. After 20 seconds in the stop, the lights can be turned on. The development time ranges from 50 to 70 seconds, depending on temperature, and the minimum bleach/fix time is 50 seconds. After washing the print for three minutes or more, I sponge it clear of excess water and lay it down on a paper towel. By the time I'm ready to lay down the next print, the previous one is almost dry, and I complete the process with a hair dryer. The only skills you have to develop beyond the skills you need for black and white printing are doing a bit of the work in total darkness and dealing with color balance. I strongly recommend getting a color head for the enlarger; dealing with filters is just a pain in the ... . And, I recommend buying the Kodak viewing filters. You have to learn how to interpret what you see when viewing through them, but I find them a great help. I generally hit the color balance I want in, at most, the third try--usually even on the second try. Herb - -----------Original Message---------- From: "Nguyen, Olivier T [AMSTA-AR-CCF]" <onguyen@pica.army.mil> Subject: RE: [Leica] Another Sin of my Youth Peter, that is a very very nice picture. I would like to ask you a newbie question (i am a newbie). when you print back and white, how do you know what is the right color for the skin tone ? i experience with couple of my prints and different picture i get different tones. Some darker than other. is it correct? or I am doing something wrong? Olivier. by the way, anyone here doing color print at home? is it hard to do color printing? any place that I can look for information ? - -- Herbert Kanner kanner@acm.org 650-326-8204