What paper for 4x5 contact printing?

[sdwfx]

Second question of the day

Would you experts tell me your favorite paper and chemicals for making 4x5 contact prints?

[Jan Pedersen]

Hi sdwfx and welcome to the LF world.
I would say it depends. What light source will you be using? If an enlarger with a filter tray start with some of he VC papers. Freestyle (If you are in the US) have an assortment of papers.
If you instead plan on using a light bulb hanging in your ceiling go with some graded papers. If you are just starting to develop you own film you may need a little assorment of different grades from 2 to 5 It takes some practice to get your negatives to match a specific paper grade.
That is also why VC papers would be a good start if you have the filter tray. Just one box of paper.
No need to spend your money on the most expensive papers you can find, learn to get some good results before spending money on the more expensive papers.

[Jfnphotography]

I use some Adorama RC Medium Weight 5 x 7 I pick up a box of 100 at a camera show for almost nothing. I use this to get my exposure time. I than move up to Ilford MGIV Multigrade RC Deluxe in 8X10 for test print, then the same paper for 11x14 and up prints.

I use Kodak Dektol and Fixer.

[sdwfx]

Thanks gents,

I am ready to hit the checkout on Freestyle for the following items:

Ilford Multigrade developer, Ilford RC VC, Ilford Fixer.

I don't have an enlarger, so I'd start with the light bulb ceiling. Is there a good article online on timings depending on the wattage of the bulb and the ditance from the contact print?

[keeds]

POP and Gold toner works nicely for me.

[Pete Watkins]

I'll second the POP & gold toner. I keep my POP in the freezer but it still slows down after a few years, nice stuff though.
Pete.

[Ole Tjugen]

POP - if the negative has enough contrast for it, and the sun is out that day.

With anything like "normal" contrast range I would much rather use graded "ordinary" paper, or perhaps Bergger Art Contact (expensive).

[Mark Sampson]

sdwfx, you have a good starting point. You won't need a very powerful bulb, say 40w or so. Just make test strips, you don't want an exposure time less than 10sec. POP (Print Out Paper) and other 19th century contact processes will be for after you have the basics down.

[Ash]

If it's for reference, I use 10x8 RC paper, and I use a piece of glass. I get 4 negs per 10x8 (or else the paper can be cut to quarters and used individually).

I only really contact print 6x4,5 medium format film for wallet prints. Most of the time I enlarge everything.

As said by everyone else - test strip, get your exposure time, make your proper contact print, and you're done. Universal paper developer and Ilford multigrade is my choice

[sdwfx]

Ah, the test-strip, of course, something that obvious I can't even think about.

Tell me if I'm half-way getting it. So first I get a black (light tight) mask to cover a portion of the test paper in the dark, turn on the light for say 10 seconds, right?

Then shift the mask and expose the subsequent portion of the paper for longer (20s ?) then continue until all the test paper is exposed?

But how do I "read" the developed test paper? I should be looking at the black-ish strip that I am aiming for?

Gosh, it's painful to be a newbie, isn't it?