Topic: Paper Negatives

[jessthespringer]

Hi all,

so after quite a long break away from it all, I got back in the darkroom yesterday afternoon and to ease myself back in gently, had a go a making a few paper negatives, tried it once as research for another project and always fancied giving it another whirl.  
Also had a go at applying some, organic (for want of a better term) textures, in the form of a piece of meshy, cross hatch, papery, fabric type stuff.  The texture was applied for about 1/4 of the negative exposure, but not at all to the positive.  First time I'd tried anything like that (texturing) in the darkroom.

The first was made with a piece of glass on top of it to keep it all flat, and the second was made without the glass, which is why it's a bit softer in places.


Untitled by jessthespringer, on Flickr

the paper negative



and the original print





Untitled by jessthespringer, on Flickr


the paper negative



and the original print (the second half)



Just wondering if anyone else here is a fan of paper negatives?  Or has any thoughts on these?

Sinead

[Andrea.]

Yep, love doing them. Well, I say love perhaps more 'like' doing them. But I do them in-camera both 5x7 and in the past 8x10. Great fun.

Self-portrait. Kentmere Art Document in-camera [Franka Rolfix]  as neg circa 5 mins exposure. Enlarged on Foma PE paper and sepia toned.

Mission House. pre-flashed Silverprint Proof paper shot in 8x10 [on loan] circa 30 secs exposure I think. Contact printed onto Foma Varient and sepia toned.

[jessthespringer]

Great, had been thinking about giving them a whirl in camera as well.  How do you rate the paper?  Is it like ISO 4 or something?

[original_ann]

Beautiful, jessthespringer!  My favorite is that snow covered fence.

I've so wanted to try this out (in camera) however I know nothing about how you handle for development times.  I develop my 4x5's in a Jobo tank with reels.  Can someone share what I'd do?  Are certain developers better than others?

[Andrea.]

Yes, rate it about 4 ish. I use silverprint proof VC-ish paper but anything works ok. I pre-flash the paper under the enlarger at grade 00 and use that. Over-expose rather than under-expose and then develop by inspection in very weak developer. I wrote it up a while back here http://boxesbellows.blogspot.com/search?q=paper+negative

[LT]

Great stuff Sinead.

I understand using a yellow filter on camera can help in contrast control/ tonal rendering too.

I've done a bit of both in-camera and using as an interneg.  It is great fun.  I wouldnt say I;ve anywhere near mastered it though.  I really like the way you can "dodge" using pencil shading on the back of shadow areas too.

[Andrea.]

I must say I have never had any luck with the pencil on the back of the neg thing. Must be incompetence on my part as I have seen some wonderful paper-neg work using this technique by a certain Andrew Sanderson.  http://www.andrewsanderson.com/categories.php?category=0 .

I rather like the textures on jessthespringer 's work. Must give that a try

[LT]

I use as soft a pencil as I can find (a 5b) - it's tricky to not get shading strokes though.

I've used it on film negs too - works quite well, but takes some mastering.

[astrobeck]

I'm inspired to give this a whirl.  Love the effects, very nice!   

[moominsean]

i used to mess about with paper negs quite a bit 20 years ago...

[original_ann]

Interesting Sean, I really love the perspective of the last one! 

Okay, (to anyone / all):  so is it my understanding that it's best to develop in trays? I don't have a darkroom - so unless there is a development technique that doesn't require eyeballing, I'm out...

[LT]

Ann - I assume you'll be shooting in-camera as you dont have a darkroom to print the paper internegs in ....

you'll be able to develop the paper in any daylight sheet-film tank (combi-plan, jobo etc) or use those development tubes.  Some people use a 2-reel 35mm paterson type tank with the film (paper) curved around the outside - if you do this, make sure the emulsion side is facing inwards and the centre spindle is in place (light - fogging otherwise).

Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but you'll need a paper developer  - any will do.

Also, you'll probably find you'll need some pre-flashing.  For this, get a gel-filter holder and fill with a couple of layers of tracing paper or greaseproof paper to make a diffuser.  Take a light reading through this pointing towards the general direction of the shot.  Place the diffuser directly against the lens and expose the paper neg at the meter reading reduced by about 4 or 3 stops - this pre-flashes the emulsion and helps to control the excessive contrast of the paper. You can then expose the paper as you would with film.

[Andrea.]

Ann, I do have an ilforchrome sheet paper developing tank you can have if it's any help.

[Miles]

That 3rd one Sean is so cool.

Miles ...

[original_ann]

Leon - thank you for the details!  I NEVER knew how.  I have to re-read when I'm not multitasking so i might come back later with more questions. 

Andrea - thank you!  But I suppose I'll be able to load in my JOBO tank and give that a go at some point.  I've always wanted to try this out

[Mojave]

I know nothing about this process. I just wanted to comment about the gorgeous pix. Wow!!

[johann]

That's cool. I always wanted to try this technic, but with positive paper, now that ilford has some out.

[LT]

Johann - I posted a few test runs with this stuff a few months ago. Ed and I will
be doing a video cast of us messing about with some in a few weeks too.

I find it to be a very difficult medium to get consistency and successful results with. It has a massive reverse reciprocity fall off at exposure times shorter than a second. Good when it works well though. And good fun too. 

[johann]

That's great Leon. I'm really looking forward to the next vodcast !
Thanks for the info.

[jojonas~]

ditto on the vodcast! as soon as I get my tripod I wanna get out and try rolling some paper on a 120 spool