Color Developing

[mee...@my-deja.com]

Is it much harder to develop color negatives and prints rather than
black and white? Is there anywhere i can get info on a color darkroom?

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Before you buy.

[Manny Bhuta]

IMHO developing color negatives is actually easier than
developing black and white. That is provided you have equipment
to maintain chemicals at constant temperature, preferably 100ºF
+/- 0.5ºF. While not quite as convenient or as good, you can
use a container with warm water to keep chemicals at the desired
temperature. About 20 years ago, I used to develop color
negatives films without any special equipment. Unlike B&W all
films are developed exactly the same way in the same chemistry.

Making good color prints is no more difficult than making good
B&W prints. The problems are different. Most beginners have a
problem determining proper filtration. I will admit that a
beginner is more likely to be satisfied with his/her first B&W
print than a color print. But making a good B&W print is not a
trivial task.

You need to be more specific about color darkroom. How much are
you willing to spend? How important is convenience to you?
Are you willing to make several test strips and spend a lot of
time to determine filtration? Or, would you rather spend some
money for a good color analyzer

--
Manny Bhuta
Randolph, NJ USA

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[mee...@my-deja.com]

> You need to be more specific about color darkroom. How much are
> you willing to spend? How important is convenience to you?
> Are you willing to make several test strips and spend a lot of
> time to determine filtration? Or, would you rather spend some
> money for a good color analyzer
>

well... here's the deal. I am only 15 years old (16 in a few days :) )
and don't have a job. Although i should get one soon. I am probly
willing to spend a couple hundred doolars or so... or is that number way
too low? I was just wondering about this because if i am going to be
shooting lots of rolls i want to have a cheaper option than a photo lab.

[Manny Bhuta]

Unless you will develop hundreds of rolls/yr., you will find
that developing and printing color negative (C41 process ) films
will cost you more than cost at discount labs. You may save
making 8x10 and larger enlargements. Cost of chemicals alone
will equal or exceed what the lab charges. You can reduce your
cost by reusing chemicals but then you are likely get
inconsistent results. I hate to discourage anyone from getting
in to color darkroom work but the reason should be the fun of
doing it and quality of results. I am sorry I do not have an
answer you would like.

--
Manny Bhuta
Randolph, NJ USA

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