 BetterPhoto Member |
Grain How do I achieve grain in photographs in the dark room ?
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Alan N. Marcus |
Hi Jacqueline, The conventional (chemical) photo process is silver based. When you see grain in a black and white image you are observing a clump of silver particles. Normally we wish to render the sliver clumps so very fine that they are not visible. However, there is no normal in art so you are free to try and generate images with a high degree of graininess. Use films with high ISO values. Films with ISO’s greater than 400 yield the most grain. Make high magnification enlargements by selecting a tiny portion of the negative as the principle subject. Extreme cropping and high magnification result in grain. Use glossy paper as this produces a sharper image; thus the grain is more apparent. Use a condenser enlarger as opposed to a diffusion enlarger, as the image is sharper, and thus grain is enhanced. When developing the film avoid typical film developers; switch to a more aggressive paper developer. Develop at elevated temperatures. Normally we develop at around 68°F (20°C). To induce grain, develop at greater than 75°F (24°C). When developing, normally we attempt to keep all solutions and wash water at the same temperature. To induce the appearance of grain, vary the solution temperatures by 5°F (3°C). The result is not grain but insipid reticulation which in this mild from resembles grain. Under expose two f/stops and increase development time 20%. This will induce grain. Good luck, Alan Marcus (marginal technical gobbledygook)
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