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Rekindling a love affair with my first professional camera...

Rekindling a love affair with my first professional camera…

I made the switch to digital photography full time, sometime in 2000 .  Even at that time I’d been phasing out the use of traditional film based photography gradually as more exciting opportunities  would present themselves with the advent of my new digital interest. As with most photography folk at the time, my interest and use of 35mm and 120mm films and systems declined as I fell to the lure…

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How To Choose Photographic Enlarging Paper for the Darkroom

{Image via Webcam LLC}

You’ve proudly picked up your film camera, loaded the right film, played with the composition, got the lighting and exposure right, and finally took a great snapshot. You managed to develop your own film and are feeling pretty good - but hold your horses, you’re not done just yet. Now comes the trickiest part – PRINTING. Yes printing. It’s what people used to do with negatives before only scanning and looking at them on a screen… When it comes to printing in the darkroom, choosing the right enlarging paper makes a world of difference in your final result.

As with many things in film photography, selecting the right photographic paper is totally subjective, and depends on what kind of visual impact you want in your final print. You may want super glossy or super matte - or something in between. A good starting point is to print the same negative on a wide variety of papers, which helps you understand the difference through hands-on experience. However, before you go drop a fortune on every type of photographic enlarging paper available, it’s a good idea to get a grasp of the basic options out there:

Paper Types

There are mainly two types of photographic paper – resin-coated and fiber-based. Understanding the difference between the two types is important. Let’s take a close look at each type.

Resin-coated (RC) Paper – As the name suggests, RC paper comes with an outer layer of resins, which help expedite the process of developing prints on this type of photographic paper. If you want to print faster, then RC paper is the best option for you. It dries fast and flat, and thus takes less time to go from drying to framing. It is also a cost effective option for the beginners who may need to reprint the same negative several times. At the same time, resin-coated prints deliver great sharpness and contrast, and are suitable for a wide variety of subject matter, including portrait photography. In fact, RC paper is a popular choice of both hobbyists and professional photographers, because it provides a balance between aesthetics and functionality. However, this type of paper is more susceptible to scratches, and is not a suitable option for archival purpose.

Fiber-based Paper – If you want to preserve your prints for years, you should opt for fiber-based papers. Most exhibitions and museums use this type of paper for prints. I personally prefer fiber-based paper for the look and feel it provides. Fiber paper comes with finer grain structure, provides more control over the process of printing, and offers a number of tonality options, including brown, blue and sepia. Moreover, fiber-based prints are sturdier and more resistant to scratching, staining, and discoloring. The only downside is that the paper takes a long time to process, and it dries curled. So you need to even out the print before you frame it. However, if you have enough time for printing, it would be a great option to try.

Paper Finishes

Film print papers come with a variety of finishes, ranging from glossy to matte; and you need to choose one that best complements your desired end result. Remember, however, that photographic papers with the same name from different manufacturers may have different levels of shine. For instance, low-luster paper from one brand could be quite similar to matte paper from another brand. So you actually need to print on different papers from different brands to see what works for you. In general, there are mainly three types of finishes to choose from.

Glossy Paper – I usually choose a glossy paper when I intend to highlight the rich color tones, high contrast and sharpness of my photograph. If your original picture is even slightly out of focus, consider avoiding glossy print, for it could amplify even small mistakes. Moreover, glossy papers often produce glares; and positioning a glossy print under a glass frame could be really troublesome. Another downside of this paper is that it is less resistant to scratches and fingerprints.

Matte Paper – If you want your photographs to look more subdued, less dramatic, and like a work of fine art, consider opting for a matte paper. This type of finish comes with a rough texture and low level of shine. One benefit with a matte print is that it helps to hide small mistakes and imperfections. Also, a matte surface is less susceptible to scratches and fingerprints. For best results, consider framing a matte print with glass. However, if your original picture is already quite dull, hazy, or lacks contrast and detail, I’ll advise you against using a matte finish paper.

Semi-matte or Semi-gloss Papers – There are a wide range of paper finishes that are neither too glossy nor too matte. These are called by different names, such as, satin, pearl, semi-matte, semi-gloss, and low-luster. This type of paper allows you to take a midway between two extreme finishes, and is a perfect choice for a majority of photographs. It provides you some benefits of both options, while also minimizing the effects of most of their drawbacks. You will find a number of options in mid-level finishes, with each option looking slightly different from the others. I recommend that you should continue trying different semi-matte or semi-gloss papers until you find your favorite ones.

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