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Thread: Keeping or tossing prints?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Feb 1999
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    1,094

    Keeping or tossing prints?

    In the course of a typical darkroom session, I’ll wind up with multiple prints, trying to arrive at the “perfect” one. The so-called “work prints” aren’t especially bad, but they exhibit flaws that maybe only I would notice. What do you all do with your maybe-not-so-perfect prints? Do you keep them or toss them? Seems a shame to tear up a print just because it contains an area that, say, needed to be burned in a bit more. But at the same time, I don’t have the space to store them. I’m just a hobbyist, so I guess I could gift them to friends and acquaintances, who likely, in turn, would put them in their closets or in next week’s trash collection. Thoughts?

  2. #2
    Tin Can's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    22,387

    Re: Keeping or tossing prints?

    I tear them in half

    Often wet
    Tin Can

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
    Posts
    34

    Re: Keeping or tossing prints?

    I save them for post processing experiments with toning

  4. #4
    jp's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    5,628

    Re: Keeping or tossing prints?

    I cut them into strips and make bookmarks.

  5. #5
    Niels
    Join Date
    Jan 2022
    Location
    Denmark
    Posts
    139

    Re: Keeping or tossing prints?

    If you gift them to somebody they will surely frame them and put them somewere so you'ss see it every time you visit - a constant reminder of your mistakes.
    ----
    Niels

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Posts
    1,573

    Re: Keeping or tossing prints?

    I tear them in half and toss 'em. I have too many prints in storage now!

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Sheridan, Colorado
    Posts
    2,434

    Re: Keeping or tossing prints?

    Since we are talking about a print that's a "keeper", I'd give them away -- but I only give away prints that I mat and frame, the way I want.

    Not too many friends would go to the trouble and expense of matting and framing a "raw" print. So then they are stuck. What do they do with it? Then they end up in the same boat as you did.

    But when I gift a matted and framed photo, my friends have always found a good place for it -- and they never notice the "imperfections".

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    234

    Re: Keeping or tossing prints?

    I keep one and write the settings used, draw on it where it was dodged or burned and trash the rest.

  9. #9

    Re: Keeping or tossing prints?

    Quote Originally Posted by Alan9940 View Post
    I tear them in half and toss 'em. I have too many prints in storage now!
    +1
    Sometimes it is pretty depressing to see how many prints it took to get it right.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    558

    Re: Keeping or tossing prints?

    I think if you are going to put something out into the world you should always go with your best. I always keep everything around for a while because I might change my mind on what is best. I keep a few bad prints to cut for the odd flashing mask. And since I've been mounting infrequently lately I keep some around to practice on the trimmer before I start on the real stuff.

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