Papers

Papers Introduction Papers, like films, have different characteristics. Some basic knowledge and common sense regarding the handling of light-sensitive papers will make your darkroom experiences less frustrating. Black-and- white paper emulsion Black-and-white papers consist of emulsion on a paper base. Images on black-and-white films are usually negative or recorded in tones of grey in reverse of the reflective brightness of a scene. Projecting negative images onto black-and-white papers results in positive images recorded in tones of grey relative to the reflective brightness values in the original scene. Color paper emulsion Color papers consist of a three-layered emulsion on a paper base. Color printing papers are for printing color negatives or color transparencies. Like color films, color printing papers can be identified by the suffixes “color” for color prints and “chrome” for color transparencies. Paper format Photographic printing papers (both in black-and-white and color) are manufactured in various cut-sheet sizes ranging from 5 by 7 to 20 by 24 inches and rolls up to 1,000 feet long. Paper characteristics Paper characteristics are similar to film characteristics and these characteristics are emulsion sensitivity, spectral sensitivity, contrast, and paper surfaces. The performance and use of photographic printing papers depend on the characteristics of the paper. Paper emulsion sensitivity Paper emulsion sensitivity refers to the responsiveness of a paper to light. The emulsions used for printing papers are slower or less sensitive to light than most film emulsions. A high sensitivity to light is not required or desirable. Slower paper emulsion sensitivity allows for some exposure manipulation during the printing process to correct incorrectly exposed negatives. Exposure manipulation that results in more light given to an area is called burning in. Dodging is the term used when light is selectively shielded from specific areas on the paper during exposure. Continued on next page 7-41