Photographic printing
Encyclopedia
Photographic printing is the process of producing a final image on paper for viewing, using chemically sensitized paper
. The paper is exposed to a photographic negative
, a positive transparency (or slide), or a digital image
file projected using an enlarger
or digital exposure unit such as a LightJet
printer. Alternatively, the negative or transparency may be placed atop the paper and directly exposed, creating a contact print
. Photographs are more commonly printed on plain paper, for example by a color printer, but this is not considered "photographic printing".
Following exposure, the paper is processed
to reveal and make permanent the latent image
.
or within an automated photo printing machine. These steps are:
Optionally, after fixing, the print is treated with a hypo clearing agent to ensure complete removal of the fixer, which would otherwise compromise the long term stability of the image. Prints can be chemically toned or hand coloured after processing.
black-and-white
photographic printing paper. Panalure was developed to facilitate the printing of full-tone black-and-white images from color negatives
– a difficult task with conventional orthochromatic
papers due to the orange tint of the film base. Panalure also finds application as paper negatives in large format
cameras. It is generally not suitable for conventional black-and-white printing, since it must be handled and developed in near-complete darkness.
Kodak has announced that it will no longer produce or sell this product. However, as of early 2006, it is still available from various online retailers.
Colour papers require specific chemical processing in proprietary chemicals. Today's processes are called RA-4
, which is for printing colour negatives, and Ilfochrome
, for colour transparencies.
Photographic paper
Photographic paper is paper coated with light-sensitive chemicals, used for making photographic prints.Photographic paper is exposed to light in a controlled manner, either by placing a negative in contact with the paper directly to produce a contact print, by using an enlarger in order to create a...
. The paper is exposed to a photographic negative
Negative (photography)
In photography, a negative may refer to three different things, although they are all related.-A negative:Film for 35 mm cameras comes in long narrow strips of chemical-coated plastic or cellulose acetate. As each image is captured by the camera onto the film strip, the film strip advances so that...
, a positive transparency (or slide), or a digital image
Digital image
A digital image is a numeric representation of a two-dimensional image. Depending on whether or not the image resolution is fixed, it may be of vector or raster type...
file projected using an enlarger
Enlarger
An enlarger is a specialized transparency projector used to produce photographic prints from film or glass negatives using the gelatin silver process, or from transparencies.-Construction:...
or digital exposure unit such as a LightJet
LightJet
LightJet is a trademark of Océ Display Graphics Systems, a division of Océ N.V. for a brand of hardware used for printing digital images to photographic paper and film. Lightjet printers are no longer manufactured . The term "Lightjet" is often used to generically describe a digitally made...
printer. Alternatively, the negative or transparency may be placed atop the paper and directly exposed, creating a contact print
Contact print
A contact print is a photographic image produced from film; sometimes from a film negative, and sometimes from a film positive. The defining characteristic of a contact print is that the photographic result is made by exposing through the film negative or positive, onto a light sensitive material...
. Photographs are more commonly printed on plain paper, for example by a color printer, but this is not considered "photographic printing".
Following exposure, the paper is processed
Photographic processing
Photographic processing is the chemical means by which photographic film and paper is treated after photographic exposure to produce a negative or positive image...
to reveal and make permanent the latent image
Latent image
A latent image on photographic film is an invisible image produced by the exposure of the film to light. When the film is developed, the area that was exposed darkens and forms a visible image...
.
Printing on black-and-white paper
The process consists of four major steps, performed in a photographic darkroomDarkroom
A darkroom is a room that can be made completely dark to allow the processing of light sensitive photographic materials, including photographic film and photographic paper. Darkrooms have been created and used since the inception of photography in the early 19th century...
or within an automated photo printing machine. These steps are:
- Exposure of the image onto the sensitized paper using a contact printerContact printA contact print is a photographic image produced from film; sometimes from a film negative, and sometimes from a film positive. The defining characteristic of a contact print is that the photographic result is made by exposing through the film negative or positive, onto a light sensitive material...
or enlargerEnlargerAn enlarger is a specialized transparency projector used to produce photographic prints from film or glass negatives using the gelatin silver process, or from transparencies.-Construction:...
;
- Processing of the latent imagePhotographic processingPhotographic processing is the chemical means by which photographic film and paper is treated after photographic exposure to produce a negative or positive image...
using the following chemical process:- Development of the exposed image reduces the silver halideSilver halideA silver halide is one of the compounds formed between silver and one of the halogens — silver bromide , chloride , iodide , and three forms of silver fluorides. As a group, they are often referred to as the silver halides, and are often given the pseudo-chemical notation AgX...
in the latent image to metallic silver; - Stopping development by neutralising, diluting or removing the developing chemicals;
- Fixing the image by dissolving undeveloped silver halide from the light-sensitive emulsion:
- Washing thoroughly to remove processing chemicals protects the finished print from fading and deterioration.
- Development of the exposed image reduces the silver halide
Optionally, after fixing, the print is treated with a hypo clearing agent to ensure complete removal of the fixer, which would otherwise compromise the long term stability of the image. Prints can be chemically toned or hand coloured after processing.
Panalure paper
Kodak Panalure is a panchromaticPanchromatic
Panchromatic film is a type of black-and-white photographic film that is sensitive to all wavelengths of visible light. A panchromatic film therefore produces a realistic reproduction of a scene as it appears to the human eye. Almost all modern photographic film is panchromatic, but some types are...
black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
photographic printing paper. Panalure was developed to facilitate the printing of full-tone black-and-white images from color negatives
Negative (photography)
In photography, a negative may refer to three different things, although they are all related.-A negative:Film for 35 mm cameras comes in long narrow strips of chemical-coated plastic or cellulose acetate. As each image is captured by the camera onto the film strip, the film strip advances so that...
– a difficult task with conventional orthochromatic
Orthochromatic
- Orthochromatic photography :Orthochromatic photography refers to a photographic emulsion that is sensitive to only blue and green light, and thus can be processed with a red safelight. The increased blue sensitivity causes blue objects to appear lighter and red ones darker...
papers due to the orange tint of the film base. Panalure also finds application as paper negatives in large format
Large format
Large format refers to any imaging format of 4×5 inches or larger. Large format is larger than "medium format", the 6×6 cm or 6×9 cm size of Hasselblad, Rollei, Kowa, Pentax etc cameras , and much larger than the 24×36 mm frame of 35 mm format.The main advantage...
cameras. It is generally not suitable for conventional black-and-white printing, since it must be handled and developed in near-complete darkness.
Kodak has announced that it will no longer produce or sell this product. However, as of early 2006, it is still available from various online retailers.
Printing on color paper
For more info see also: Chromogenic color printChromogenic color print
Chromogenic color prints are full-color photographic prints made using chromogenic materials and processes. These prints may be produced from an original which is a color negative, slide, or digital image. The chromogenic print process, was nearly synonymous with the 20th century color snapshot...
Colour papers require specific chemical processing in proprietary chemicals. Today's processes are called RA-4
Ra-4
The RA-4 is an Egyptian weapon which may be used as an assault rifle, sniper rifle and grenade launcher....
, which is for printing colour negatives, and Ilfochrome
Ilfochrome
Ilfochrome is a dye destruction positive-to-positive photographic process used for the reproduction of slides on photographic paper. The prints are made on a dimensionally stable polyester base, essentially a plastic base opposed to traditional paper base...
, for colour transparencies.
Printing from color negatives
- Colour negatives are printed on RA-4Ra-4The RA-4 is an Egyptian weapon which may be used as an assault rifle, sniper rifle and grenade launcher....
papers and produce a Type C printType C printChromogenic color prints are full-color photographic prints made using chromogenic materials and processes. These prints may be produced from an original which is a color negative, slide, or digital image. The chromogenic print process, was nearly synonymous with the 20th century color snapshot...
. These are essentially the same as colour negative films in that they consist of three emulsion layers, each sensitive to redRedRed is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
, greenGreenGreen is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
and blueBlueBlue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
light. Upon processing, colour couplers produce cyanCyanCyan from , transliterated: kýanos, meaning "dark blue substance") may be used as the name of any of a number of colors in the blue/green range of the spectrum. In reference to the visible spectrum cyan is used to refer to the color obtained by mixing equal amounts of green and blue light or the...
, magentaMagentaMagenta is a color evoked by light stronger in blue and red wavelengths than in yellowish-green wavelengths . In light experiments, magenta can be produced by removing the lime-green wavelengths from white light...
and yellowYellowYellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
dyes, representing the true colours of the subject. The processing sequence is very similar to the C-41 processC-41 processC-41 is a chromogenic color print film developing process. C-41, also known as CN-16 by Fuji, CNK-4 by Konica, and AP-70 by AGFA, is the most popular film process in use, with most photofinishing labs devoting at least one machine to this development process....
. - Rollei make a film called 'Digibase 200 Pro' that is like a conventional C-41 film but it has no orange mask, allowing easy prints on black-and-white paper with a grade 2 or 3 variable contrast filter
Printing from color transparencies
- Ilfochrome paper uses the dye destructionDye destructionDye destruction or dye bleach is a photographic printing process, in which dyes embedded in the paper are bleached in processing. Because the dyes are fully formed in the paper prior to processing, they may be formulated with few constraints, compared with the complex dye couplers that must react...
process to produce prints from positive transparencies. The colour dyes are incorporated into the paper and bleached during processing. - Older papers and processes, like EP2EP2EP2 is a 2006 bastard pop EP by The Kleptones. This is the second in a series of three EPs that were released in the three weeks preceding the release of the double album, 24 Hours....
and Type R print are no longer in production.
See also
- Contact printContact printA contact print is a photographic image produced from film; sometimes from a film negative, and sometimes from a film positive. The defining characteristic of a contact print is that the photographic result is made by exposing through the film negative or positive, onto a light sensitive material...
- Film developing
- Gelatin-silver processGelatin-silver processThe gelatin silver process is the photographic process used with currently available black-and-white films and printing papers. A suspension of silver salts in gelatin is coated onto a support such as glass, flexible plastic or film, baryta paper, or resin-coated paper...
- List of photographic processes
- Photographic paperPhotographic paperPhotographic paper is paper coated with light-sensitive chemicals, used for making photographic prints.Photographic paper is exposed to light in a controlled manner, either by placing a negative in contact with the paper directly to produce a contact print, by using an enlarger in order to create a...
- Photographic print toningPhotographic print toningIn photography, toning is a method of changing the color of black-and-white photographs. In analog photography, toning is a chemical process carried out on silver-based photographic prints. This darkroom process can not be done with a color photograph and although the black-and-white photograph is...
- Standard photographic print sizesStandard photographic print sizesStandard photographic print sizes are used in photographic printing. Cut sheets of paper meant for printing photographs are commonly sold in these sizes....