Why Paper Negatives?
Paper negatives are one of analogue photography’s simplest, most joyful processes. Instead of loading a sheet of film, you load photographic paper into your large-format holder. When exposed and developed, the result is a negative image directly on paper.
So why bother?
- Unique aesthetics — paper produces a soft, painterly look, with deep shadows and creamy highlights.
- Low cost & accessibility — paper is inexpensive compared to sheet film, making it perfect for experimenting without fear of wasting materials.
- Hands-on fun — developing under safelight, handling physical sheets, and experimenting with contrast filters all make it a tactile, satisfying process.
- Slowness & presence — working with paper negatives slows you down, encouraging mindful composition and deliberate image-making.
Paper negatives also connect you to a tradition of 19th-century photographers who used similar processes long before flexible film existed.
From Negative to Positive
Once you’ve made a paper negative, there are several ways to enjoy the final positive image:
- Contact printing: Place your paper negative against another sheet of light-sensitive paper, expose under an enlarger or sunlight, and process normally. The result is a positive print with a unique, historic look.
- Re-photographing onto paper: Inspired by techniques used by Afghan camera portrait artists, you can place the paper negative on a light table and photograph it onto another sheet of photographic paper. Developing this second sheet produces an analogue paper positive, preserving the hand-made tonal qualities of the original.
- Digital capture: Photograph or scan the paper negative and invert in software to create a positive, useful for sharing while keeping the analogue original intact.
This flexibility allows you to explore multiple workflows, from fully analogue to hybrid processes.
Workflow Basics
ISO Values
Photographic paper is much less sensitive than film. Typical effective ISO values are:
- ISO 1–6 for most modern multigrade RC papers
- ISO 12 or slightly higher if the paper has been pre-flashed
Bracketing exposures is recommended until you understand your paper, light source, and desired effect.
Contrast Control
Because paper is designed for printing negatives, it has a high contrast curve. To manage this:
- Multigrade filters: Adjust tonal range and subtly influence colour if using colour paper.
- Pre-flashing: Brief exposure to uniform light before the main exposure lowers contrast, extends shadow detail, and can help with colour balance.
Processing Steps
Processing is similar to making a darkroom print:
- Develop in standard B&W or colour developer (depending on paper type).
- Stop bath (or plain water rinse).
- Fix to stabilise the image.
- Final wash to remove residual chemicals.
Working with Jagglé Cassettes
Jagglé cassettes make paper negatives more accessible and flexible:
- Starter Kit: Includes the cassette ready to load paper. Perfect for photographers who already have paper and chemistry.
- Complete Kit: Includes cassette, a pack of photographic paper, and all necessary chemistry — a ready-to-go package for full analogue exploration.
Workflow benefits:
- Load paper in a darkbag and expose in-camera or enlarger.
- Develop immediately in the cassette, in daylight-safe conditions.
- Re-photograph directly with the cassette for fast experimentation.
- Process on-location, making it ideal for workshops, travel, or fieldwork.
With Jagglé, paper negatives stop being a lab-bound curiosity and become a portable, hands-on creative tool.
Conclusion
Making paper negatives is tactile, playful, and endlessly rewarding. Whether you contact print, re-photograph onto paper, or digitise for sharing, the process lets you explore analogue photography in a fresh and low-cost way.
Jagglé cassettes — whether in the starter or complete kit — give you the freedom to shoot, develop, and see results almost anywhere. Paper negatives are a playground: a chance to experiment with exposure, contrast, filtration, and composition, all while producing beautiful, hand-made images that are as much objects as they are pictures.