Anemic Agfa Record Rapid

[Cor]

Some years ago I obtained a box of AGFA Record Rapid, FB, single weight, 8*10 which I froze down. Recently I thawed the box to give it a try.

The prints have a nice warm tone and some highlight fog. This fog can probably taken away by adding Benzotriazole (I used that trick successfully in the past). But would BZT alter the colour of the warm image?

A bigger problem is a kind of anemic character of the print: the shadows are not very dark (low Dmax) they are quite open though.

Prolonged development did not help too much to increase density (my print developer is fine, MGIV RC printed next to it is perfect).

Overall the prints lack "snap" and it looks like there is a veil over the image (because of the lack of nice deep blacks?)

Since I have zero experience with Record Rapid: is this the character of this paper, or is it age showing?

What developer could one use to bring back density in shadows?

Thanks,

best,

Cor

 

[Ian Grant]

Record Rapid worked well in most developers, PQ Universal, Agfa Neuto WA, etc. Benzotriazole will cool the image.

This paper doesn't keep well particularly the newer version with no cadmium and when on its lastb legs behaves as you describe. Try using the developer as twice the normal strength, ie half the dilution, so 1+4 instead of 1+9, or similar depending on what you use.

Ian

 

[Cor]

Thanks for the feedback, Ian

It's hard to judge from the box how old it is, ie pre or post cadmium time, but form looking to the prints I guess it's post..

Anyway I try to tone them with FSA toner, that toner mostly bumps up the contrast (shadow density) by roughly a grade or so.

Cannot loose much on these prints, I'll try selenium and direct sulphide toning as well.

I always use DS-14 as my print developer because it keeps verry well in my NOVA, I mix that working strength. But I can mix up some say Dektol at double strength, or do you have another suggestion when starting from scratch?

Best,

Cor


Cor

 

[AlanC]

The paper with the cadmium has a blue label. I believe this changed when they took the cadmium out.

alan Clark

 

[Cor]

The paper with the cadmium has a blue label. I believe this changed when they took the cadmium out.

alan Clark

My box has a white label and a light blue band with "Baryta Paper" written on it...maybe I should try a sheet or so when I plan a lith printing session..