Alternative to Kodak Polymax...

Pat Kearns

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Nov 20, 2002
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4
Dorothy, you are going to get 50 different opinions on paper for this question. I use either Ilford Multigrade or Luminos Flexicon VC papers. Luminos has discontinued photographic papers like Kodak but it was really made by Kentmere. Freestyle film and I believe B&H now carries Kentmere. The papers are both RC, Fibre and there was a nice warm tone as well. Kentmere has several surfaces which are great for hand coloring if that interests you. Kentmere has some good info on their papers on their website. Do a Google search on Kentmere photographic paper to get the site name.
 

bobbysandstrom

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Mar 26, 2005
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4x5 Format
Check out Forte Poly"grade" with Photographers Formulary 130. Selenium 1:20 4 minutes. It's not the same but as a lover of Polymax FA FB it satisfies me the most so far.
 

Claire Senft

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Dec 7, 2004
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Milwaukee, W
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I very much like Polymax FB glossy that is air dried. I have some on hand. I bought a 100 sheet box from Freesyle of Arista EDU Ultra gloosy FB DW 100 sheet 8x10 paper for $35.99.

I was ammazed in how vwry closely the two papers resembled each in speed, contrast, print color and gradation. I also formed the opinion that the Arista paper is quite easily fogged by safelight. When keeping the developer, stopbath,and fixer trays in the shadow of the safelight and not being able to illuminate the interior of my paper safe or easel I had no problems. I have not yet toned any of this Arista paper and therefore I know nothing about its response to toners.

I bought the paper hoping it was worthy of use. If you want a good emulation of Polymax, you may wish to try this paper. Don't blame me if your wallet stays heavier than it would were you able to buy Polymax.
 

John Simmons

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Nov 2, 2004
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Dorthy, I have tried dozens of papers and my favorate and best in my opinion is Ilford Fiber Warmtone Glossy. Developed in their new ilford coldtone developer it will give you beautiful blueish purple tones....developed in their warmtone developer or various dilutions of LPD can give you a range of brown tones. It has the deepest black I have ever seen, a beautiful glossy surface similar to kodaks, responds to all toners, responds to localized bleaching, and is dead on consistent from box to box. The only drawback is the price but i feel it is worth it. Give it a try in the coldtone developer.

John
 

Lachlan Young

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Dec 2, 2005
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Forte Polygrade (Arista Edu Ultra) and Adox Fineprint are both superb papers which give a glorious tonality to prints - with a couple of exceptions. Both need Kodak 1A red safelighting at least 1 metre(yard) away from the paper and neither are developer incorporated so expect development times of about three minutes or so with the Adox. The ADOX is also pretty slow with XP2+ being the worst offender thanks to its purple-ish dye. Both are good and pretty cheap.

Good luck,

Lachlan
 

Ian Grant

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Aug 2, 2004
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Lachlan Young said:
Forte Polygrade (Arista Edu Ultra) and Adox Fineprint are both superb papers
Click to expand...

Forte papers are sold under the Adox brand name by Fotoimpec - Berlin, & it's associates Retro Photographic - Uk, and J&C - US.

However not all Adox brand products come from Forte ! as some films are re-badged Iflord - the CHM range.

Ian
 

Lachlan Young

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Dec 2, 2005
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Ian Grant said:
Forte papers are sold under the Adox brand name by Fotoimpec - Berlin, & it's associates Retro Photographic - Uk, and J&C - US.

However not all Adox brand products come from Forte ! as some films are re-badged Iflord - the CHM range.

Ian
Click to expand...

Just to confuse you further Adox Fineprint is made by EFKE - it is the Adox Warmtone VC paper that is made by Forte - the graded Adox warmtone paper is however EFKE EMAKS.

Hope this helps,

Lachlan
 

genecrumpler

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Feb 26, 2006
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North Caroli
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I asked John Sexton the same question and he said most likely Ilford MG FB. This was good answer since I've been using it for nearly 20 years!
 

Ben 4

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Joined
Sep 20, 2005
Messages
216
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Lancaster, P
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Medium Format
The best alternative I've found (and I've only just found it, so I have only limited experience with it) is Kentmere Fineprint. You'll find a fuller account in this thread: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

--Ben
 

jp80874

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Jul 28, 2004
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Bath, OH 442
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I have been using Kentmere VC FB developed in Ilford Multigrade since Polymax stopped being available. My only complaint is that it comes in a cheap box. My first box of 16x20" came from B&H. It had been manhandled and beat up, I think in their warehouse. There were light burns on the edges of the prints after development.
I used a window over mat so it didn't matter enough to fight B&H. I have bought the next five boxes directly from Freestyle who I believe is the US distributor. Not one problem since I made that change. I have also found that production is consistent from box to box, something you couldn't say about Polymax. It is so consistent that I use strips from another 8x10 box for step tests. Sure couldn't do that with Polymax.

John Powers
 
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