Black
& white enlarging - Fine
Art Printing
Making
fine art prints is a creative process that involves selecting from
a range of materials, processes and techniques to reveal an image
that reflects the ideas, aesthetics and emotions of the photographer.
It is a considered, often slow methodical process that brings the
best out of the negative to produce "The Print" rather than a rush
to produce "a print". Ansel Adams drew the analogy with music, "The
negative is the score, the print is the performance". Most often it
uses Fibre based papers, archival processing techniques and toning
methods to give the image a greater permanence.
Selection
of Materials
Types
of Paper: Resin coated / Fibre Based
RC
Paper: Most students are introduced
to photographic printing through RC (resin coated paper). Often
one of the reasons for this is that the paper is quick to process
and needs much less time in each of the processing solutions.
The paper is actually coated with a layer of polyethylene that
acts as a barrier and prevents the chemicals from penetrating
into the fibres of the paper. The
diagram illustrates the various layers of this type of paper.
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Diagram Courtesy of AGFA |
Processing
of RC Paper
A typical time for processing
RC paper might be as follows:
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Note
the box has the letters Ilfospeed RC
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Three
types of RC paper
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Because
of
the plastic nature of the paper it is quickly and easily
processed, it also dries quickly and easily, without wrinkling
and is robust when handled.
However,
this type of paper is not considered optimum for making Fine
art prints on and along with more extended processing and
washing times, fibre based paper is used.