Attention Kodak Polymax Users... and those searching for a paper/dev

[bobbysandstrom]

I just received a PM regarding some of my posts re Forte poly"grade" and Photographers Formulary 130. I'm posting this after a long series of paper/dev tests. If you used and loved Polymax FA FB with dektol I think I know what your tastes are and can tell you with great satisfaction that the Forte Poly"Grade" paper with PF130 gives me the same feeling of elegance and beautiful tonality that I had with the Kodak. Though it's not exactly the same look it is equally inspiring. I'm writing this for two reasons... 1) in hopes of saving someone some time, sweat and $$... 2) more selfishly, in hopes that many will jump on board and support Forte so that the paper will be here in "X" years.

If you are searching for a paper/dev for your work, even if you are not familiar with Kodak's paper, I highly recommend giving this combo a try! I can't see how you won't love it!


Hope this helps!

bob

 

[Ben 4]

Thanks

Thanks, Bob. That was my pm; I'm going to give the 130 a try with my polygrade. When everything came together with the discontinued Kodak paper, the prints would just take my breath away. I know that I will not be able to duplicate the specific look of Polymax, but I'm hoping to be able to achieve that jaw-dropping quality.

--Ben

 

[blaze-on]

Thanks for the hard work Bobby. I too have seen good polymax FA prints and appreciate your input.

I also saw some of your prints you brought to Per's Owens Vally Workshop last October and they were beautiful, so I am happy that you found/discovered this as I too will try the combo.

Matt (Deer killer)

Hope to see you at this years Owens gathering...

 

[Claire Senft]

Thank you Bonnie. recently, I bought a 100 sheet box of the cheapest FB 9x10 from Freestyle. $36.99 if I recall correctly. The paper was a match for print color, contrast and speed that I have on hand...and very economical. It did though seem to be quite subseptible to safelight fog.

 

[fschifano]

...It did though seem to be quite subseptible to safelight fog.

I'd thought that Forte papers required a red safelight. Checking the tech sheets says otherwise and that an OC safelight is fine. While lots of folks don't particularly care for red safelights, I use them because they are more or less universal. AFIK there is no paper that cannot be used in a red safelight environment. Besides, I'm too lazy to be switching safelight filters around for different papers.

 

[Flotsam]

For the last couple of nights I've been printing on my waning supply of Polymax FA FB. Dang, I love that stuff!
Thanks for the heads up. I'll definitely give that combo a try.

 

[jeroldharter]

I have about 150 Polymax FA 16 x 20's left and 150 20 x 24's left plus a bunch of 8x10's which I don't use much of. I use Zone VI developer. I too will lament the end of my Ploymax FA supply. Hard to believe Kodak could not make a sustainable profit.

I also like Zone VI Brilliant paper but they no longer make sizes above 11 x 14.

I hear mixed reviews of Kentmere. I bought a small supply of 11 x 14 to check out.

 

[Claire Senft]

My comments about the safelight were directed towards the inexpensive Freestyle paper not the Forte Polygrade.

 

[Mark Layne]

I liked Elite and Polymax FA both. Beautiful papers but their single best feature for me was the most beautiful surface texture of any paper bar none.
Some current papers while excellent have very pedestrian surface finishes.

Mark

 

[Flotsam]

I liked Elite and Polymax FA both. Beautiful papers but their single best feature for me was the most beautiful surface texture of any paper bar none.

Especially the Single Weight.
Man, I was sorry to see that go.

 

[kenmeyersphoto]

Bobby-

Just use the box of #3 Azo!!!

 

[bobbysandstrom]

Ken, what's happenin brotha? You got my message at Yosemite I hope. Anyway, this paper/dev combo is for enlarging my tiny 4x5s.