Topic: First contact print!

[Francois]

I just can't believe I've never done this before, but this afternoon during a big storm (there was nothing else to do) I went in the lab and tried contact printing a 4x5 negative on 48 year old Kodak Velox paper!
Now WOW!
I didn't think it would work this well. The blacks are a very deep blueish color. Detail is incredible (it was a photo taken on Ortho Litho film so grain is almost non-existent). Not a sight of fogging even after all that time.
And it gave me a chance to try-out an old Arkay print dryer that has been sitting unused in my darkroom for over 20 years.

I can't wait for the prints to be dry just to see if the emulsion will peel off the plate (hopefully not).

[Francois]

Just pulled the print off the hot plate.
The ferrotype plate on my dryer has a mottled texture on it, so it shows directly on the dry print.
It's not really unpleasant to look at, just quite surprising as it's not a common thing.

[Bryan]

I’ve been doing the, for a while now, really happy with the results I get.  I have a few print frames that I masked for a boarder for both 4x5 and 9x12 prints. 

[John Robison]

Thanks Francois, your post has reminded me that somewhere in my stuff there are a couple of boxes of Arista ortho 4x5.
I didn’t use it because of the very slow speed but since I’m doing paper negatives anyway might as well shoot this too.
The paper negs get contact printed also. Have an ancient Yankee 4x5 contact printer.
Don’t you just love s-l-o-w photography. I like paper because you can work under safelight, same with ortho.
Funny how a person can forget they even have something. Just getting potty I guess.

[Francois]

Funny thing is that I never used "real" film in 4x5!
The arista I got was on sale years ago when they went from version 2 to version 3. This one was even cheaper because it needs to be trimmed to fit in a regular holder.

I really need to make some sort of jig to cut it down to size...

[Francois]

I’ve been doing the, for a while now, really happy with the results I get.  I have a few print frames that I masked for a boarder for both 4x5 and 9x12 prints.

I've got somewhere an old 1920's Kodak printing frame that has adjustable blades. I'll need to find it and put it to good use as my 8x10 frame is a bit overkill for such small prints.

[Bryan]

I’ve been doing the, for a while now, really happy with the results I get.  I have a few print frames that I masked for a boarder for both 4x5 and 9x12 prints.

I've got somewhere an old 1920's Kodak printing frame that has adjustable blades. I'll need to find it and put it to good use as my 8x10 frame is a bit overkill for such small prints.

I have one of those adjustable blade print frames but I don't use it.  It's hard to get everything lined up just right since you have to place the negative and paper just right while you close it down.  I got some print frames without the blades and have it set up so the negative and paper sit in one corner.  I masked off the glass to make a 1/4 inch border using pin striping tape that you can get at an auto parts store. 

[Francois]

In the end, that would be a lot more convenient.
I'm starting to wonder if I couldn't make a custom frame just for that?