Praha Nový SvětReference Print Lith printing takes the darkroom magic to the next level. It's based on overexposing the paper under the enlarger and then developing it in a special diluted high contrast developer. It's called infectious development. The initial phase, incubation period, where nothing seems to be happening, is several minutes long, depending on the temperature of the developer. The development time is not constant. Rather, one has to carefully watch as the shadows start to quickly build up. When the print reaches a so called "snatch point", the print needs to be quickly pulled from the developer and submerged is stop bath. The infectious development is so fast at that point that it's best to skip the dripping off and move to the stop quickly, otherwise, the photo may go too dark.

It takes practice to pull the print at the right time as the darkroom conditions are not the best for evaluating the tones. It's a darkroom to begin with faintly illuminated by red (or green) light. Often, the practitioners also add a little bit of "old brown" developer to the mix making it even harder to see through. However, when it's just right, it's very exciting. The technique introduces colors to a black and white process without toning, and yes, toning is further also possible.

Unfortunately, the technique only works well with a limited pool of photographic papers and that pool seems to be shrinking as manufacturers change their formulas and governments introduce further chemical regulations. Who knows how much time this technique has left. I should make sure to enjoy it more while it's possible.

A good starting point for exposure is 2 - 3 stops overexposed. But how does one know what the right exposure would be? There are several methods but I choose a 2-step process. I first make a standard black and white print in a standard developer. This reference print provides me with the base exposure. It also gives me another version of the print to enjoy, put side by side, compare.

And now for the study sequence, technical information is under each print. Admittedly, the digital representations are approximations. I photographed the prints with a digital camera and processed them to look as the printed originals. But of course, a reflective surface of the paper is not the same as a monitor. And my monitor will be very different from yours, brightness, contrast, and color balance. Either way, hopefully the below will show you how the look of a lith print can change making small tweaks to the process.

Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print No. 1Lith printing study

Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print Study, No. 1
Black and White Darkroom Lith Print on Foma Fomatone 132 Paper
Arista Liquid Lith Developer 10+10+240+240 (500ml)
Exposure: f/4, 48 seconds (2 stops over reference)
Development: 9:30 minutes at 80ºF/26ºC

Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print No. 2Lith Printing Study

Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print Study, No. 2
Black and White Darkroom Lith Print on Foma Fomatone 132 Paper
Exposure: f/4, 48 seconds
Development: 8:45 minutes

Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print No. 3Lith Printing Study

Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print Study, No. 3
Black and White Darkroom Lith Print on Foma Fomatone 132 Paper
Exposure: f/4, 96 seconds (3 stops over reference)
Development: 8:00 minutes

Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print No. 4Lith Printing Study

Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print Study, No. 4
Black and White Darkroom Lith Print on Foma Fomatone 132 Paper
Split tone exposure: f/4, 48 seconds + 24 seconds
Development: Not recorded :-(

Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print No. 5Lith Printing Study

Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print Study, No. 5
Black and White Darkroom Lith Print on Foma Fomatone 132 Paper
Split tone exposure: f/4, 48 seconds + 12 seconds
Development: Not recorded :-(

Darkroom: Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print No. 5Lith Printing Study

Praha Nový Svět, Lith Print Study, No. 5 - Matted Selection
Black and White Darkroom Lith Print on Foma Fomatone 132 Paper

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

For more darkroom prints, please, head over to my Darkroom photo gallery.

Previously from the darkroom:

Orchard Park Train Depot in InfraredDarkroom Print Grosse Point LighthouseDarkroom Print

Chautauqua BelleDarkroom Lith Print

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