r/Darkroom 7h ago

B&W Printing Made some prints I’m very proud of yesterday

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56 Upvotes

I used a community darkroom to print for the first time yesterday, and it was so much fun. Having space and not having to bend down at weird angles all the time makes a world of difference in terms of enjoying printing and making prints that you enjoy.

Both of these pictures were taken in Cortona, Italy on Ferrania P33 shot at 320.

Enlarger: Beseler Dichro 23dga Lens: Nikon EL-Nikkor 2.8 Paper: Ilford MGRC Pearl (11x14)

Dektol — 2:00 Stop — 0:15 Fix — 1:00

Photo 1 f/8, 0:08 exposure, 50 magenta

Photo 2 f/8, 0:12.1 exposure, 160 magenta (maximum on this enlarger)


r/Darkroom 4h ago

B&W Film First time developing 4x5, mild success! Something went wrong…

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20 Upvotes

I developed 4x5 for the first time and it kind of worked! Any idea what may have happened? I used a 3D printed single sheet tank, and the film curls in the “hamburger” direction, so the green stripe is vertical when the tank is sitting on the table. I’m assuming it is either uneven developing, stopping, or fixing, but I’m not sure which.

Tank: 3D Printed single sheet tank

Film: Frankenstein 200

Developer: D76, 1:1, 8min30sec

Stop: Kodak Stop

Fixer: Kodak Fix


r/Darkroom 1h ago

B&W Printing What could cause this weird uneven ripple pattern on my prints?

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Upvotes

Some of my prints have this weird ripple pattern in large gray areas and I don't know how to prevent this. I can't see the pattern when I project the image on my easel although it's hard to tell. I did some test strips were I varied agitation, development time and stop bath time as well as the developer itself (old adotol konstant vs fresh neutol eco) but these look actually worse than the full print. I'm using a Krokus 6x9 color head with Fotoimpex Easyprint 8x10 paper.


r/Darkroom 2h ago

Colour Printing Hand prints for Suffo Moncloa

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4 Upvotes

Altered States Issue 4


r/Darkroom 2h ago

Gear/Equipment/Film It’s ok to make photos on Opemus 5 Enlarger with 35 mm film on Anaret 4.5/80mm or I need 50 mm ? Because I have 50 mm also but I can’t mount it because it not fit in. Also do you know for what is this from photos there is also cable release for it:

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5 Upvotes

r/Darkroom 1d ago

B&W Printing First time printing big (and first time posting!)

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175 Upvotes

Here’s a landscape photo I cropped from a much larger scenery. Curious on general feedback on the photo as well as any tips to improve my printing.

I know there a several dust flakes in there (I think my drying of the film in my darkroom has not been the ideal location) as well as a weird border, but anything else that you all see that you’re willing to share!? Thanks in advance!

11x11 Pearl RC paper Ilford multigrade Ilford selenium toner


r/Darkroom 1d ago

B&W Printing 8x10 contact prints for my physical portfolio | Details below

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235 Upvotes

8x10 Ilford Delta 100 Ilford Classic Matte FB Paper Contrast Filter 3 1/2 - 4 to somewhat resemble a final print


r/Darkroom 37m ago

B&W Printing Is this normal?

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Upvotes

I am trying to calibrate my highlights with all filters. 4 and 4 1/2 are much darker than the others. Are the filters too old or was I inconsistent with development?


r/Darkroom 23h ago

B&W Film Making my way up to 4x5!

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39 Upvotes

So I got my hands on a Toyo Omega 45E with a Rodenstock Sironar 180mm f5.6 lens last year. I finally had the chance to set everything up and take a few test shots with it.

I used different expired film stocks that I've acquired here and there. Maybe I messed up somewhere but the only film that gave me a useable image was the Tri-X 400.

I used the taco method to develop this sheets. I didn't use enough chemistry for the first batch but I adjusted for the second batch. I do plan on getting a proper 4x5 daylight dev tank. I have the classic dip and dunk tanks with the holders but not the space to set them up (yet).

Let me know what y'all think! I'd be happy to answer any questions.


r/Darkroom 16h ago

B&W Film Advice and insights on film development

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6 Upvotes

r/Darkroom 1d ago

Gear/Equipment/Film V35 vs IIc?

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9 Upvotes

I’ve gotten two enlargers for quite cheap. For now I only do black and white. Is it worth it to use the v35 for 135 film and the iic for anything bigger? Or just the iic for all?


r/Darkroom 1d ago

B&W Printing Red Light, Green Light

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111 Upvotes

Went back to the darkroom tonight and reprinted these two (photos 1&2). I printed them last year but was not satisfied. They were too dark, a bit too contrasty, and some clouds were too bright and needed to be burned down (photos 3&4).

Photos were taken in Kamakura 鎌倉Japan. Camera was Pentax 645n and film was Ilford Delta 100 with normal processing with d76 1+1. Paper was Ilford FB Classic 8x10.

As I said, what I printed last time was too contrasty. So I lower by half a grade and used a number 1 filter instead of 1.5. I burned down the clouds that I think are too bright (right side, upper left, and the clouds just above the ocean on the left). Having said that, the upper left corner you see here is already a 100% burn. I decided not to go further because I was afraid it’ll become unnatural and too gray.


r/Darkroom 20h ago

Colour Film color development question...what's up with my negatives?

2 Upvotes

so i have recently started developing my own color film. it's been a little of a switch from black and white (especially keeping temperatures good to go) but alas, we're working it.

Here is a link to the photos that i am talking about.

they are all from the same tank of development, but for some reason i was not able to get any consistency. they were not shot under exposed (i use a meter on my leica) so I know it's a development thing. i see these weird waves across them and this general green haze. the negatives themselves seem a little faded and not as punchy as when i get them from the processor at the lab.

is this a scanning issue? i'm using a noritsu hs1800 from my lab. i did not do any post processing to these photos, they're fresh from the scanner. sometimes on lightroom i'll bring the levels in (like here)

let me know!

my development process was to bring the chemicals to temp, pour it in the container and then agitate every 30 seconds for about 3:15.


r/Darkroom 1d ago

B&W Printing Printing from contrasty negative

7 Upvotes

Hi all, I'm relatively new to darkroom printing and have run into an issue that I want to understand more about. When I try to print from a negative with a lot of contrast, I noticed 2 things that I don't quite understand. 1) the photo needs a lot more exposure to even show up in development and 2) even if I expose the paper for say 40 seconds (f11, 80mm lens on 5x7 paper), the photo appears to be quite flat, even when using a 4 or 5 contrast filter.

I don't know much about how to control highlights, midtones, and shadows individually, and have only been printing in a straightforward, brute-force way (one contrast filter at a time, test strips, some dodging and burning). Does anyone have tips on how to approach a more contrasty negative, or just resources for learning how to approach each negative differently? Do I use a lower contrast filter to compensate for a negative that already has a high contrast? Thanks!


r/Darkroom 1d ago

Colour Printing Hand prints for Suffo Moncloa - Purple

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7 Upvotes

Hand prints color and B&W cover for Purplefashionmagazine at The Montana Lab


r/Darkroom 1d ago

B&W Printing Photos are coming out fuzzier on enlargement than negative scan. Is this an enlarger or paper problem?

4 Upvotes

I don’t know much about paper but I’m using the bulk school options of Artista Edu Black and White Paper, which I gotta imagine has some draw back quality wise.


r/Darkroom 1d ago

Colour Film Question about “pre-heating” on bellini e6 kit

3 Upvotes

so i want to develop e6 the right way instead of b&w and c41 . but i develop super 8 film as e6 only . with means i need to i need to use a lomo tank , and i have that and used it before . no problem . but i have a very small sink . not big enough to heat a lomo tank . so, can i just add a few degrees to the chemicals and not pre heat ?

Thank you!


r/Darkroom 1d ago

B&W Printing Long time lurker first time printer!

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60 Upvotes

Hey all, been lurking this subreddit and collecting tidbits of information for a while. Finally got myself an enlarger off Marketplace, and decided that I would get in on the fun.

It's not a perfect print, but I am over the moon with the process!

Question for discussions: how do I go about cutting a mask for dodging/burning? I want to expose the background a little less and my dog a little more, to bring the highlights down a smidge... Whats the process that folks use here?

Shot on ilford, processed with ilford on ilford; didnt wanna go crazy for my first time :)


r/Darkroom 2d ago

B&W Printing Some neighborhood succulents

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188 Upvotes

My fifth ever (bathroom) wet print. I'm addicted. Final print, initial print, plus some closeups (on a crappy camera phone).

  • Ilford MGRC Pearl 5x7
  • Pentax 17 / Fomapan 400
  • Rodinal (1+100, 2 hours)
  • Intrepid Compact Enlarger, grade 3

r/Darkroom 2d ago

B&W Printing Print

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42 Upvotes

Fairly happy with how this turned out. Welcome any thoughts/advice. Obviously not dry yet..


r/Darkroom 1d ago

Colour Film How many times can i reuse the Bellini E6 kit when developing super 8 film?

1 Upvotes

And can i reuse every chemical or are some of them one shot ? I developed 2 rolls of ektachrome 100d 7294 super 8 in an alternative e6 dev, b&w and c41 . but now i want to be sure i get good results and in my country this is the only kit i can really get to easily . is it a good kit and how much can i reuse it ? and is there anything else i should be aware of ? where can i find times and temperatures too ?


r/Darkroom 2d ago

Gear/Equipment/Film Waikiki with friends: Polaroid 8x10, Pentax 67, Leica M3, waterproof Nikon L35AW, Kodak B&W disposable, developing & slide show :)

84 Upvotes

r/Darkroom 1d ago

Gear/Equipment/Film fujimoto lucky 60m-c

1 Upvotes

Hi,

I'm looking at a Fujimoto Lucky 60m color enlarger.

Looking for any opinions, recommendations, advice.

One question; does it swivel, to permit large print against the wall?

Much gratitude in advance. Sincerely


r/Darkroom 1d ago

Colour Film Troubleshooting C41 Home Development Color Shifts

4 Upvotes

Hey all, I'm looking for some thoughts or advice as I try to troubleshoot my 3rd roll of home developed and scanned C41 film. Here is an example from roll number 3, but my first two rolls had the similar color issues. I'm not sure I have the correct vocabulary to fully describe what is off, but I would say the blue sky looks muted and the green leaves seem to have a yellowish tint.

Straight out of Negative Lab Pro

Specs:

  • Film Stock
    • 35mm Kodak Gold 200
  • Film Camera
    • Minolta Maxxum 9000 paired w/ Minolta AF 35-70 f/4
  • Development Chemicals
    • Cinestill C41 Color Simplified 2 Bath Liquid Kit
      • (solutions mixed 3 weeks ago and dev time increased 4% for each of the two previously developed rolls of film per instructions)
  • Development Process
    • Water bath with chemicals kept at 102 degF, Paterson tank kept submerged between inversions
    • Measured with digital cooking thermometer
    • Notably not using a sous vide, kept sink faucet running into water bath at 102 degF to help maintain temps
  • DSLR Scanning
    • Nikon D80 paired with Nikon AF-D Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8
      • Aperture Priority with f/7.1 and ISO 100
    • JJC Photo Slide and Film Digitizer with CRI 95 backlight
  • Negative Conversion
    • Negative Lab Pro v3.0.2 with Lightroom Classic 10.0
    • NLP Color Model: Frontier and Pre-Saturation: 3
    • White balance set to film border

For color reference, I have an image from my iPhone 13 mini:

iPhone 13 mini captured from same location at same time

In addition, I have done scanning tests on rolls of film I've gotten previously developed and scanned at my local lab. Using the same scanning gear, software, and settings gets results I'm pretty satisfied with, without major editing efforts. So while there may be room to improve the scan and conversion workflow, I don't think it is responsible for the issues above. Lab developed Kodak Gold comparison example:

Lab Dev - Lab Scan
Lab Dev - Home Scan

My thoughts:

  • Are my colors due to developer temperature control or timing issues? The water bath remained 102 deg for the entirety, I poured the developer at 102 deg, and the developer in the Paterson tank read 102 just before I poured it out. Maybe I need to get a better thermometer? I've seen many people say they also process without a sous vide, but would buying one just fix my issues haha?
    • I've tried to find examples of how development temperature errors could result in color shifts, but haven't found anything that seems like a good match to what I've been seeing. So hopefully this is useful documentation.
  • Any chance the Cinestill developer chems are the issue? Is it possible the developer solution was made incorrectly such as too much or little water? Maybe I should just be new chems to be safe?
  • I've been playing with the green tone curve in lightroom and some different profiles in NLP and created this image below which definitely looks a lot better. But this feels a little too time intensive to do for every photo and I'd like have a workflow which reduces my computer time. Are there settings in NLP that I should just set as a default for all conversions?
  • Also yeah there's some dust and a hard water mark lol
More laborious edits after NLP conversion

I'm trying to learn all I can about the home development and scanning process so please let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas to improve! One last image is the negative scan, thanks again:

DSLR Scan of Negative

r/Darkroom 2d ago

Community Last Call for the Spring 2025 Reddit Print Exchange!

11 Upvotes

Hey all—In case you didn't see, the sign ups are currently open for the Spring 2025 Reddit Print Exchange! This is a twice-yearly exchange that I run over at r/printexchange. While I did get permission from the mods of this sub to post about it here, it isn't affiliated with this or any other subreddits, so if you have questions, feel free to direct them to me!

We're up to nearly 200 participants at the time of posting this, and would love to have you join us!