I am going to try to print some black & white prints from color negatives. I will be using RC multigrade paper (probably Ilford). Does anyone have any tips (I have not done this before)? Is there a particular filter I should use? Is one paper better than another for this?

Thanks,

Jim Rock

-- James W. Rock (jameswrock@aol.com), February 26, 1999

Answers

This subject has been addressed time and time again here, on db.photo.net/bboard and on usenet rec.photo.darkroom. Do a search at these places (www.dejanews.com for usenet). Briefly: start with a #4 filter or lots of magenta filtration and expect long printing times, lots of grain, washed out skies and blue objects, and ruddy looking faces.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), February 28, 1999.

Kodak used to make Panalure specifically for this purpose. It was/is a panchromatic paper and thus has to be handled in total darkness.

-- James D. Steele (jdsteele@erols.com), March 08, 1999.

Kodak Panalure Select. Comes in three grades

-- C MATTER (cmatter@riag.com), April 09, 1999.

Hey, I have been getting some very fine prints using aaa Beseler 67s Dichro enlarger. I crank up the magenta to about 150 and develpe in a developer I got out of an old B&w data book called ANSCO 110. It uses hydroquinone as the developing agent. It is very slow, average 8 minute depending on exposure. I'm using Kodak Polycontrast paper. This gives a worm tone and is very pleasing. Detail very good.

Hope this helps

-- Phillip Allen (prallen@glade.net), April 09, 1999.

Use Ilford multigrade paper with a 3.5 grade filter. I have benn printing B&W for over 30yrs.

-- Joseph W. Daoust (gerdts@cae.wisc.edu), June 17, 1999.

printing color negs in b/w

James, it's fairly easy and rewarding- I use Ilford multigrade with a 3 1/2 magenta filter to increase contrast. I have a Nikon 50mm F4 and take 45 seconds at F8. Sure, the reds are all black (black flowers), but this is the simplest way to get a very nice looking b/w print from color negs(and I have lots of favorite color negs). Beware of too much contrast- as you increase the contrast using either printing light time or by the filters, your eyes always favor more and more contrast. Watchout for the details and print accordingly. Have Fun!- even with color negs from a silly Point and Shoot camera look great when printed in b/w.

-- jeff (jeffsfl@yahoo.com), February 17, 2001.