Photography
Kate Jordahl
Foothill College
Fiber-based Paper
Fiber-based paper is richer and more permanent than RC paper. It is the paper of choice
for any serious photographic printmaker. You will find an immediate improvement as you
begin to print on this material. Fiber-based paper also takes more time and care than its plastic
cousin. The following steps are a starting point for working with fiber-based papers:
1. Developer - 2 minutes with constant agitation. Be sure that the entire paper is immersed in
chemical at once.
2. Stop bath - 30 seconds.
3. Fixer - 5 minutes with regular agitation. Be sure the paper is under the surface of the
chemical. If more than one print is in the fixer at once, be sure to shuffle them periodically.
Sheets of paper that stick together will not fix adequately. White light inspection is possible
after one minute of fix time. Do not over fix!
(Water holding tray - This is where the prints wait before the next steps.)
4. Pre-wash - 5 minutes.
5. Wash aid - 5 minutes. This chemical neutralizes the fixer cutting washing time dramatically.
6. Final Wash -- 10 minutes. Use archival washer. If using a tub wash, be sure to shuffle
multiple prints to insure complete washing. (Toned prints should be washed for 20 minutes.)
7. Squeegee and air dry on screens or take home in a blotter book to hang or screen dry.
Additional notes:
• Draining at each step becomes more critical with fiber-based paper since the paper fibers
hold more chemicals. Allow 15 seconds for a print to drain.
• Fiber-based paper “dries down” meaning that the image will be slightly darker dry than it
appears wet! To make life more interesting, each type of paper has its own percentage of dry
down. Start by making your final print 5-10% lighter than the best wet print.
• The wet print is very delicate and calls for much more care than the RC. Squeegee gently
and lay face up on screens for first part of drying and turn face down when partially dry.
• If you must transport your wet prints, carry them home in the blotter book. Do not leave
them in your blotter book or they may develop unsightly surface textures. Take the prints out
and air dry them in a dust free, safe place as soon as possible.
• When dry, the fiber-based print will be curled and must be flattened in the dry mount press.
Fiber-based paper can be mounted at higher temperatures than RC. Attempting to flatten or
mount a print that is not completely dry may ruin the print.
Assignment: FB vs. RC
Select a successful photograph from your introductory photography course and re-print
this image on fiber-based paper. Remember that even though the exposure may be different
on the new paper, contrast, burning & dodging and other technical adjustments will be
proportionally the same. Use all of the printing skills you have at your command. If you do not
have an RC print, then print the same negative on RC and Fiber. Submit in a folder with a
cover sheet (Name, assignment, date, class and three things you have learned.)
Photo 2
Kate Jordahl
Foothill College
Guide to Successful Printing
You have begun your voyage as a black and white printer. This is an exciting and
challenging adventure. The following are some guideposts to assist you along the way:
•
Always have a test strips that are too dark and too light. You are likely to make
better exposure choices with this information at hand.
•
Test strip often. It saves money and saves time.
•
Don’t scrimp on test strip size. A small test strip to save paper can cost more paper in
the long run!!
•
When "guessing" a dodge start with 25% of base exposure. Still no detail? Go to
50% of base exposure
•
When "guessing" a burn start with 50% of base exposure. Still no detail? Go to
100%.
•
• Better – don’t guess, test for burns and dodges! Test more than one area on
separate pieces of photo paper then develop them together. This saves time and adds
to accuracy.
•
Never print for less than 10 seconds.
•
Use consistent dodges and burns at all times. No intermittent, hocus-pocus, voodoo
burns or dodges!
•
Refocus often! Refocus especially before any final print!
•
Do not randomly make your "constants" into variables!
•
Keep notes. Clear accurate notes will both teach you about printing AND allow more
accurate reprinting of a print.
•
Keep your times in all chemicals consistent. Results will be more predictable in
printing and problems like changes in toner color and staining will be avoided.
•
Agitate prints in all solutions. Be accurate in time and agitation. Consistency and
stain-avoidance demand this!
•
Your focus (mental as well as enlarger!) and concentration on printing will help you
be efficient and save materials. When you walk into the darkroom, put aside all of
your other thoughts and think only of pictures. Care in all the steps of printing will
show in your photographs.
•
Breath. A pause for thoughtful reflection and to check your set up can save time and
frustration in the long run!