Hello all, I'm new to this posting business and new to the darkroom as well. My question is: CAN black and white prints be made (with sucess) from color negatives? I've tried it before and usually the contrast is wanting. I have an Omega Chromega B Dichroic enlarger and have had luck adjusting the contrast with poorly exposed B&W film by adjusting the red light using Ilford Variable Contrast RC Paper. I am afraid the trial and error process with the color negatives will drain all the fun out of it. So, any suggestions? I haven't seen much on this topic in Photography books. By the way, is this enlarger any good? I have absolutely no idea. I picked it up at a garage sale 2 weeks ago. Thanks, Gene.

-- Gene Pierson (glpier@worldnet.att.net), August 23, 1999

Answers

Oops. I guess I should have looked a little further and I would have found the posting on this topic, but please someone tell me if my enlarger is any good for B&W prints.

-- Gene Pierson (glpier@worldnet.att.net), August 23, 1999.

You have a very fine enlarger--it should serve you well. Black and white prints can be made from color negatives, but it requires a special paper that is sensitive to all colors of light. Kodak makes such a paper, called Panalure. This paper must be handled in total darkness.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), August 25, 1999.

We have a Black and White lab in Hollywood, CA and print from color negs all the time. We use Ilford RC or fibre multigrade papers with excellant results. It generally takes high filtration and extra exposures but the prints look good. Panalure has never been a suitable option. Very rarely will the color dyes in the color neg be a problem. Call me toll-free if you have any questions . 888/PHOTO BW or 888/746-8629

-- Donald P. Hodgdon (silverlab@earthlink.net), August 25, 1999.

I am new to this posting stuff too. But as I am a student at the local college for photography, I find bouncing ideas off others is one of the best ways to learn things. Better than school I think.... Anyway, there is a publication from photo techniques magazine, called Mastering Black and white photography. It is actually just another special issue you can get anytime. I bought mine at the book store but you can get it from them too 1 800 877 5410 I would suggest buying it just for the other basic info in it. But as for your question, there is an article on page 49. About it. I will try to abbreviate what it says. This auther (Bob Mitchell) says that two papers gave him results that match the quality of t-max 400!!! Panalure select rc, (it is a panchromatic paper) And Oriental Seagull panchromatic paper. Now the trick comes with using filters on your enlarger. This may be the problem the previous person was speaking of. This article shows a graph,( it is almost the same way that filters affect your b&w film on your camera when you originally take a b&w picture) but not entirely. You will have to get the magazine to see the results and understand how they will effect your picture. I have yet to try it. but I can't wait, I shot thirty rolls of Kodak color in Kenya two years ago. I was there six months with my husband doing volenteer work. But I got some awesome shots of giraffe and lions on the masa mara. I would love to make some black and white prints and transfer them to artist paper to paint or handcolor. Anyway I hope this helps some.I was excited about it after I read this mag.

-- martha goldsmith (oscar@unidial.com), August 31, 1999.