Any news on Azo replacement?

Allan Connery · May 7, 2006

What's the latest word from Michael A. Smith on his Lodima Fine Art contact paper? I believe he hoped to show sample prints on the new paper at the APUG conference in Toronto.

Peter Schrager · May 8, 2006

AZO

Allan-nothing yet but hold your breath because the final test samples are coming down the pike in just a hot New York Minute!! I don't remember Michael ever saying he would have test prints at the conference. But who cares. He still needs more people to put up some front money but I know he will get it done.
Did you invest? If not you should. This an extraordinary venture, A NEW Silver Chloride Paper in the 21 century. Who would have thought....
Peter

Craig · May 8, 2006

At the conference he said that he had the first samples off the coating machines delivered to him at the conference, but he was going to wait until he was in his home darkroom to test them. In the Azo workshop he used the old Kodak paper.

p krentz · May 9, 2006

I have used Azo for years and the only way I can see a replacement paper for it is if one neg is used for both papers for the same exposure time and procedure and compared side by side (as the song used to say), the we can see if it is truly a replacement or a substitute. Pat

c6h6o3 · May 9, 2006

Why is everyone assuming that it can't be better than Azo? If I know Michael Smith, it will be. He wields a great deal of control over this process, as opposed to none over Kodak's.

Peter Schrager · May 9, 2006

AZO

not only that but Michael is NOT going to settle for second best. Just pulling this off will be a major feat. Just slight variations in Kettle size and pouring can throw the whole thing off. To be honest it's quite interesting and at the same time probably exasperating. I wish him luck but I'm in on the buy regardless...
Best, Peter

Ian Grant · May 9, 2006

Craig said:
At the conference he said that he had the first samples off the coating machines delivered to him at the conference,

This may well indicate the paper is going to be made by one of the leading manufacturer of B&W photo papers, "that's reading between the lines". Here in Europe Kodak B&W papers have always lagged well behind other manufacturers in terms of quality and range. However the modern tradition for Large Format contact prints was until recently mainly a US market, which was why no european manufacturer still made a mass market Chloride contact printing paper.

Well one did until quite recently but only sold it into the schools/education market, and my guess is this is the new manufacturer.

If I'm right this is the only company capable of actually making a better product than AZO

Ian

c6h6o3 · May 9, 2006

Peter Schrager said:
not only that but Michael is NOT going to settle for second best.

I know that he and Paula were unhappy with the changes that showed up in the last batch of Grade 2, namely the softness and cold tones. In this regard it's actually the Azo that will come off as second best, because I'm certain that they will not accept any paper that isn't at least the equal of the old Rochester Grade 2.

Craig · May 9, 2006

Ian Grant said:
This may well indicate the paper is going to be made by one of the leading manufacturer of B&W photo papers
Ian

If you're thinking of Ilford, that was not the impression I got at all. I suspect that it is one of the eastern European coaters.

Curt · May 9, 2006

... and David Blaine will hold his breath for...

c6h6o3 · May 9, 2006

Curt said:
... and David Blaine will hold his breath for...

Huh?

Any news on Azo replacement?

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