How to Use Ortho-Litho Film in a Pinhole Camera

Substitute transparent film for paper to get oversize negatives for maximum versatility when contact printing pinhole photographs. Ortho-litho film is roughly the same speed as regular photo paper, so the exposure time of your camera and the range it will function within are about the same.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Grease Pencil
• Darkroom Chemicals
• Darkroom Equipment

1. Set up your darkroom chemistry as follows: Developer: Dektol mixed 1:6 or weaker (up to 1:10 is OK). Stop: Use a water-filled tray. Fixer: Rapid fix or equivalent will do.

2. Place the film in the pinhole camera under normal safelight conditions in the darkroom.

3. Make an exposure with the camera and return to the darkroom for processing (see "How to Take a Pinhole Photograph," under Related eHows).

4. Remove the film and process it for 2 minutes in the developer, 1 minute in the stop and 4 minutes in the fix. The film will appear milky when removed from the camera but will clear, and its transparency will become evident after 30 seconds in the developer.

5. Wash the film for 5 minutes under running water after fixing.

6. Hang to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment by retouching the film negative. You can use a grease pencil to draw in elements or retouch highlights.
• You can scratch or otherwise affect the emulsion, "stressing" the photo image.
• Consider the "edge" of the image - and whether or not you want your image on a black or white background. For a white image border, you'll need to mask the negative's borders so light doesn't go through or use the negative carrier to define the image border.
• Film is very sensitive to the oils and sweat on fingers. This means that fingerprints are easily transferred to the film.