15 Year Old Lith A/B and 20 Year Old Paper...

[ic-racer]

I thought I ran out of Forte paper that I used for Lith printing many many years ago. However, I found a partial box of Forte 5x7 RC and six 4x5 sheets of Forte Elegance FB. They are both from around 2002.

So I figure I'd test them. Problem with the six sheets of Elegance is that six tries might not even be enough for an 'excellent' lith print. For me, I can look at a negative and tell if it will print well with standard paper. However, with Lith, I can't tell. Seems like my best lith prints came from crappy, blurry, poorly exposed negatives.

Anyway, I realized my 5 gallon boxes of Lith a/b are over 15 years old now. So, I was curious if it was still any good.

The prints are drying, I'll scan them tomorrow. I can say that the Lith a/b worked fine. Those 5 gallon boxes of developer really were a 'lifetime supply' for printing small Minox prints.

 

[ic-racer]

I forgot to scan these first ones in color, but they did not have much of any color.

FORTE 5x7 RC MG From 2002. Negative HP5 film 8x11mm in Yashica Atoron Electro.

First test is 40 seconds. Way too little exposure. My the time it was developed enough to make an image, the edges were pretty black.

 

[ic-racer]

Next try was 120 seconds. A little better. The image came up sooner, so I could pull it sooner and the border is not as bad. Still not much color (B&W scan).

 

[ic-racer]

240 seconds. A little better, but this negative was a little dense. This is because the Atoron Electro ASA only goes to 200, or maybe just a little past if the wheel is turned all the way. (Ilford HP5 film).

 

[ic-racer]

This is 240 seconds with a thinner negative from the Minox LX, HP5 (which has an ASA dial that goes to 400).
Forte, 5x7 RC MG 2002 vintage.
Actually not bad.

 

[ic-racer]

I also had some contemporary Lith paper; Foma Warmtone FB. Same negative and exposure as above.

I'm very happy with that. Almost as good as the Lith prints I made 20 years ago on fresh Forte FB. Better than the old Forte RC.

 

[ic-racer]

Comparison of a print made 20 years ago on fresh Forte FB (Minox LX; Minopan 200).
I don't think there is any paper available today that looks like this. That is why my enthusiasm for Lith printing waned all these years.

 

[ic-racer]

Lifetime supply?

 

[ic-racer]

 

[ic-racer]

 

[ic-racer]

 

[ic-racer]

These last few came out OK, so I'll buy some more paper to use up the developer.