[alt-photo] Re: Paper Negatives

[Diana Bloomfield]

Thanks, Geof.  Interesting.  I get that not everyone is "wedded to  
computers" for negatives.  I also use LF in-camera negatives, but when  
I want something much larger (than the LF cameras/film I'm willing to  
lug around), making digital negatives has been nothing short of an  
absolute dream.  I personally can't imagine going back into a  
traditional darkroom to make negatives.  I was never a fan of the  
darkroom anyway, but I remember making enlarged negatives (the old- 
fashioned way) as way too much work, way too frustrating, not all that  
inexpensive, taking up too much time, and the worst-- just too damn  
dark in that darkroom.   In the end, it may be less expensive to do it  
that way (not having to purchase a printer, etc), but I always feel  
that (my) time is worth money, too.

I have used paper negatives, in camera, which were commercial RC photo  
papers, and when used to make a positive-- those final images were  
definitely much softer than what I would have gotten had I just used  
film (of any type). Of course, those positives were also contacted  
onto commercial photo paper, not on any transparency/film material.   
So I don't think that soft look is limited solely to "non-photo paper  
material."  Then again, maybe sharpness is relative.




On Feb 9, 2010, at 7:12 PM, geoff at geoffgallery.net wrote:

> Both paraffin and beeswax are readily available - for example  
> Atlantis Art
> Supplies in London, UK.
>
> Not all of us are wedded to computers for our negatives - I use LF in
> camera negs and also analogue enlarged negs from 35mm. The latter  
> use a
> paper inter-positive (i.e. RC coated paper normal print) to produce  
> the
> enlarged neg. There is no noticeable loss of sharpness using this  
> type of
> peper neg. The RC interpos does not need waxing (and it doesn't help  
> if you
> do it).
>
> Where paper negs do produce a softer image is of course when an  
> ordinary
> (non-photo) paper material is used - e.g. calotype or liquid emulsion
> coated paper. The print then carries the image from the paper neg  
> plus an
> image of the paper material itself.
>
> Another way to soften the image - often used by those who practice
> (analogue) uncharp marking - is to put a thin film of clear acetate  
> between
> the neg and pos.
>
> Geoff
>
> Original Message: