Alternative for Agfa papers

The loss of AGFA papers was one of the cruelest cuts of all.

About a year ago there was a couple of people who were doing some testing, trying to find a replacement for a specific paper. I think one person was looking for a replacement for Kodak Polymax Fine Art and the other a replacement for AGFA multicontrast. If you do a AGFA search, you might find that discussion. IIRC there was some pretty good feedback regarding various combos of paper, developer and toners to get a pretty close result.

If the only thing that bothers you about ILMG is the green cast, then Se toning should take care of it. For richer tonality, try Galerie. I too miss Agfa paper, and never even got to try it in FB! Oh well.

Nicole said:

Hi everyone

I am still looking for an alternative to my beloved Agfa paper. I'm getting slight green colour tinges on other papers that I really don't like and am trying to find the one that gives me back my soft creamy whites and deep blacks in both RC and FB.

What papers can you recommend that fit the bill?

Thank you and kind regards,
Nicole

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Nicole,

We're in mourning together. There simply isn't anything out there that is the equivalent of Agfa MCC. I'm in a permanent state of being "bummed."

That being said, I did write to Ilford (no reply--Simon, are you reading this?) suggesting that if they married their Warm Tone emulsion to a whiter paper base, they'd have a paper that could easily be a replacement for Agfa.

It's the chlorobromide emulsion that gives the warmth, but Agfa's uniqueness was that they didn't marry that to a cream-colored base as do all or most of the other warmtones. It was that combination of bright white base with a warm emulsion that I think is the key.

If Ilford just put their Warmtone emulsion on their Multigrade IV base, it would probably work just fine. Their MGIV emulsion just doesn't give the shadow detail, which is always one of my requirements for a paper.

Larry

I use Forte PWT & Fortezo-IIRC so does John Blakemore. I've got some Foma & Adox paper to try but my darkroom's not finished yet. Fotospeed also make a WT paper called Legacy-oh and don't forget Kentmere kentona. It's a lovely paper with that old fashioned feel though not as warm as Forte.Happy printing!