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Old October 26th 07, 04:35 AM posted to rec.photo.darkroom
Thor Lancelot Simon
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Posts: 163
Default Color printing paper

In article . com,
wrote:
I'm very much interested in color printing with enlarger and I would
like to ask some questions to experts of this group


Good god, why? I still do wet darkroom work in black and white, but
color printing with an enlarger offers basically no advantages over
digital printing, requires annoying work with smelly chemicals at
high temperatures, gives inferior sharpness and image permanence, and
has a host of other drawbacks. I would certainly not start doing it now.

1- Which 4x5" films are actually available for color printing?


I asssume you want to know which 4x5 color negative films are still
available? Kodak offers two ISO 160 films, Portra 160NC (a low-
contrast portrait film optimized for skin tones) and 160VC (a "vivid
color" film optimized for, well, let's just say I don't care for it),
as well as one ISO 400 film, Portra 400NC, which has moderate contrast,
good color rendering, good reciprocity characteristics -- it's pretty
much my favorite color negative film I've ever used.

Fuji offers an ISO 160 portrait film, but I don't care for it. When I
did a lot of architectural use I used it from time to time because for
some reason it gives surprisingly printable negatives when exposed
under fluorescent light.

There are many color slide films still available in 4x5 but, ironically,
none of the high-speed ones, which is the only reason I still shoot any
color negative film at all. These days the easiest way to get high
quality color prints is to shoot slide film and scan it. Good options
in 4x5 are Fuji Astia and Provia; if you want eye-popping color you could
try Fuji Velvia or Kodak 100VS.

--
Thor Lancelot Simon


"The inconsistency is startling, though admittedly, if consistency is to
be abandoned or transcended, there is no problem." - Noam Chomsky