GTKYC - Alternative Paper Processing (Lesson)

Alternative Paper Processing

Now that you understand focal length and have made your pinhole camera(s), it’s time to put it(them) to the test! The first thing you must do is light test your camera.  For this, you must create a darkroom and set tray with chemicals to process the paper. 

Setting Up a Darkroom

Follow the directions below to set up a darkroom:

  1. Pick a room that is already dark with very little light. A closet or small bathroom is often perfect. The bonus of using a bathroom is that there’s often ventilation and a drain for cleaning up.
  2. Identify areas where light enters and black them out. You can use black poster board, extra cardboard, or a thick blanket. For a small space it won’t take much to seal it. This may take several tries – close the door, turn out the lights, and wait for a minute to make sure there are no leaks.
  3. Now set up your red light. This is the only light that is safe to use when loading paper into your camera or processing it after exposure. You can download an app to turn your cell phone red or even use a camping headlight that turns red.
  4. Set up your trays. You should have 4 trays total. I made mine by cutting off the bottoms of clean, empty milk jugs. A counter top or even the bathtub is a great place to do this. Caution – the developer may stain, so you might want to put an old towel underneath.

Please watch the following video to learn more about setting a darkroom. 

Now that your darkroom is ready, it’s time to mix your developer and fixer! 

Now that your darkroom is ready, it’s time to mix your developer and fixer! Below is a list of ingredients you will need: 4 tsp Instant Coffee 2 tsp Washing Soda 1/2tsp Vitamin C 250ml warm water ½ cup table salt 500ml warm water Directions Make the Developer: Caffenol Crush the vitamin C tablets (use the back of a spoon or a mortar and pestle) and dissolve it in a small amount of very hot water Add coffee to 250ml of warm water and stir until dissolved Add washing soda to the coffee mixture and stir until dissolved Add vitamin c and stir until combined Make the Fixer Dissolve ½ cup table salt into 500ml warm water.  Stir until dissolved

Watch the following video to learn more about making caffenol and fixer. Be sure your volume is turned on!

How to Process Silver Gelatin Paper

The process for developing silver gelatin paper, which is the paper sent in your GAVS supply kit, is the same no matter the chemicals you use. To set up your processing station, place all four of your trays in a line, left to right. Pour the caffenol into the first tray – this is the developer. Add water to the second tray, this is the stop bath. Add the salt water to the third tray, this is the fixer. And last, add water to the fourth tray. This is the rinse. Click on the plus sign above each step to learn more about the process.

Please watch the following video to learn more about processing using silver gelatin paper. Be sure your volume is turned up!

 

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