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July, 2025

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Digitizing vs. Chemical Prints

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Jiberfish
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 310
So recently I bought a film camera and have been researching on darkroom processing and printing and found it intriguing. So I am buying an enlarger with some other chemicals and trays from a guy on KSL to start making my own prints and developing my own film.

My question is what do you guys do with your negatives? Do you have an enlarger for printing or do you scan them, edit them, and print them from the computer?

The reason I ask is because I have been shooting digital for a while now and edit with lightroom/photoshop. When I was thinking about getting into film I was planning on scanning my negatives and then working with them on my computer just like all my other digital files. Then I watched some videos on darkroom processing and so far, its changed my mind and i want to start enlarger printing. Also some tips on printing would be helpful!
12 years ago
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SeanTom
Posts: 7936 - Karma: 1,747
semi related but do you regularly print your digital work?
12 years ago
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
First, I would buy a cheap scanner and see if you actually like shooting film (without having to get blacks to develop everything for you) then if you want to invest in a darkroom i would keep an eye out for free equipment on kijiji or craigslist or wherever.

I shoot both film and digital and have a few years of film processing and enlarging experience
12 years ago
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level_juan
Posts: 137 - Karma: 167
Through my school ive had acess to a darkroom so i have been developing my own film/pictures for a while. Its really cool to get to know how the whole things works and its pretty easy to get the hang of. Its also pretty rewarding/enjoyable. Sometimes, however, it can be quite tedious. If you have both options already availble to try, id try out both and then decide.
12 years ago
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Jiberfish
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 310
I do on occasion when I take one I really like. I order it from ProDPI.
12 years ago
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zahava
Posts: 7793 - Karma: 12,047
Find a lab that will print Chromogenic, its basically a completely digital LED enlarger; Inkjet blows.
12 years ago
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Jiberfish
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 310
I've never heard of that, but it sounds awesome. Do they use normal enlarger paper for it?
12 years ago
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zahava
Posts: 7793 - Karma: 12,047
Well C-Prints just refers to analogue colour so you could use an enlarger, but the digital version is a huge machine. I know the lab in Toronto uses it for large scale gallery prints...
12 years ago
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SeanTom
Posts: 7936 - Karma: 1,747
lolwut?
12 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
I just scan the negatives using my Plustek 8200i, I'm lazy.
12 years ago
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Bloc_chain
Posts: 26053 - Karma: 4,511
You get better color results with digital printing since ilfachrome is no longer a thing. B&W silver gelatin prints can be breath taking, but the quality of them is hugely dependent on the experience level of the printer.
12 years ago
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