1. Alternative Photographic Printing: Double Development
Scale:
1: Least
10: Most
Purpose
Procedure & Materials
Data
The purpose of this research into second pass photographic printing development is to not only better understand the chemical reactions occurring within the print but also to develop a more efficient and exact process for development so that photographic developers all over the world may have better predictability and control over their artwork.
In order to begin printing you must start with a standard black and white print. Higher contrast photographs tend to show better results because of the abundance of developed silver crystals in
the shadows.
Materials
1200ml Hypoclear Solution ml LD20 Lith Developer (diluted 1:20 with H20)
1000ml Ferricyanide bleach (diluted 1:10 with H20) 1200ml Arista Lith Developer (diluted 1:30 with H20)
1200ml Ilfostop Stop Bath (diluted 1:19 with H20) 20 Black & White R.C. Semi Matte Prints
Rubber Gloves Apron
Tongs Goggles
Hypothesis
Like many other every day chemical reactions, much of it depends on the molarity--or strength-- of the substances involved. If the molarity of the developer and bleach used decreases--as it does over time with use--the prints will steadily decrease in quality as well.
Obtaining and Developing the Negative
Photos were taken with a Nikon N2000 with Kodak 400 film. The subject matter varied between a cloudy sunset and a landscape. These negatives were then developed using the standard format. Kodak B&W developer was used in a 1:16 oz ratio with H20. After a 6 minute development it was then rinsed 6 times and then a standard fixer was used.
Background Research
Now to the Second Pass
Second Pass printing begins with a print that is already developed in standard black and white developer and is no longer light sensitive.
What It Is: Second pass developing is simply a process of developing the film with a diluted developer of any kind over a longer period of time. These prints often appear with warmer tones and softer highlights.
How to:You begin with a print that has already been developed with black and white developer. In order to use a second pass develop you must first thoroughly wash the print in a hypo clear solution removing any unwanted chemicals. You then bleach the print in a solution of copper bleach or ferricyanide bleach depending on the hue you wish to obtain. After bleaching you can then develop the print in the developer of your choice and work through the entire process as if it were a first pass black and white print.
Problem: Often times these second pass developed prints lose their hues and return to black and white for no apparent reason and at random.
Printing the B&W
The B&W photos were developed using Ilford Multigrade developer, Ilford Ilfostop bath and Ilford rapid fixer. Twenty photos were printed on identical Ilford R.C. paper. However, 10 photos were printed of one negative and 10 o f the another.
Preparing for Second Pass Printing
These prints were washed thoroughly in a hypoclear solution to begin. They were then sent through a ferricyanide bleach and rinsed in water before being put in the developer. Keep in mind that after the initial black & white development the entire process was done in the light.
Printing
Two developers were used to on the same paper to compare the results of each. A common issue is that the print will obtain the desired color and then revert back to black and white once dry. For both developers all of the photos at some point reverted to black and white. The photos developed in the Lith prints were then bleached again after the second development and the colors came back and stayed after being fixed in the hypoclear solution. The Arista developed prints were bleached and developed again after the second pass and their colors were saved this way as well.
Works Cited
"APPLICATIONS PRINTING IN BLACK & WHITE PRINTING TECHNIQUES." ILFORD PHOTO. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar
Clough, Dave. Landscape on the River Personal Collection, Bigfork. Ed. Emily Lawrence.
Clough, Dave. "Lith Printing." Personal interview. 17 Feb
Rudman, Tim. "Tim Rudman: Lith." AlternativePhotography.com: : Lith. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar
Rudman, Tim. "Tim Rudman's Two Golden Rules." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 02 Mar
Sunset on the Field, Whitefish Stage Road. Personal photograph by author
Results
All of the Arista prints that went through the entire second pass twice, retained their color while the ones that were not developed twice did not retain color. Every single Lith print that was bleached twice maintained their color while their counterparts that were not bleached twice lost their color.
Conclusion
What’s Next
The experiment of second pass developing twice will be continued on different paper with the same developers to see if the process truly is a solution to the disappearing colors of second pass development.
Often times second pass prints do not retain their color, these prints can be saved by second pass developing these prints twice. However based off of the results of the experiments, it appears that lith developer only needs to be bleached twice while Arista developer needs to be completely second pass developed twice.
Abstract
Second pass development is an alternative printing process that involves black and white prints being developed a second time to achieve a softer almost painting- like look. These pictures are no longer light sensitive after the initial development so the entire second pass process is done in light. Each print turns out differently depending on the contrast, paper, bleach and developer. These prints after a second development will have softer highlights and a warmer color. However, often as the print dries the color is lost and it reverts entirely back to black and white at what appears to be random. After experimenting with two developers on the same paper, photographs that were second pass developed and then taken through the process again after losing color, regained the second pass development results. This process of second pass developing twice may be a solution to the puzzling issue of black and white reverting. This experiment has been done on Arista R.C. Ultra RC VC Semi-Matte paper with both Arista Lith Developer and LD20 Lith Developer with conclusive results.