Available papers compatible with Lith printing

Dali · Oct 31, 2017

Hi there,

We all know that a lot of "lith compatible" papers were discontinued or were modified and don't "lith" well anymore...

To get a clearer view of what can be done with today's papers and to give newcomers a simple entry point, could you please list the available papers you use with success?

Thanks for your contribution which I hope should be useful for all Lith printing aficionados!

payral · Oct 31, 2017

The best way to get informations about lith papers available is to subscribe to Tim Rudman mailing list.
http://www.timrudman.com/mailing_list

Dali · Oct 31, 2017

payral said:
The best way to get informations about lith papers available is to subscribe to Tim Rudman mailing list.
http://www.timrudman.com/mailing_list

I know, I already subscribed but it would be nice is users could shared their own experience and not rely only on Tim's.

WHof · Nov 2, 2017

I think you are stuck with Fomatone 131, 132 or 532 (or Oriental warmtone, which I swear is the same paper as Foma). I have seen people go both ways
on Bergger papers so they are probably worth a shot.

mooseontheloose · Nov 3, 2017

I’ve got a small stockpile of the old Foma 131 and 132 which I’ve been saving for a couple of different projects. However, as the projects get bigger I’m starting to wonder if I’ll have enough paper to go around, unless I can find a way to make the new stuff look like the old stuff. In any event, right now I’m using Fuji’s Fujibro paper (the graded stuff - their VC variety does not lith). I know this doesn’t really help people outside of Japan as it is only available here, but it is a paper that liths, albeit somewhat reluctantly (hot lith needed to induce lith effect, colour is a nice sandy colour, but it’s prone to pepper fogging after a few passes in the developer). I have a few images in my gallery that were lith printed on that paper.

Rudeofus · Nov 3, 2017

WHof said:
I think you are stuck with Fomatone 131, 132 or 532 (or Oriental warmtone, which I swear is the same paper as Foma).

Based on many statements online and elsewhere I got a pack of this Fomatone, and it didn't lith at all. Only then did I find a document on Tim Rudman's page, which confirms my suspicion: Foma changed their emulsion a few years ago and there is no direct lithing with new Fomatone.

This is why I think this thread is important: times change, papers change, and most info found online and in books is horribly outdated. Most papers highly recommended in Tim Rudman's book are no longer available, or have been changed in such a way that direct lithing is no longer possible.

Dali · Nov 3, 2017

Rudeofus said:
This is why I think this thread is important: times change, papers change, and most info found online and in books is horribly outdated. Most papers highly recommended in Tim Rudman's book are no longer available, or have been changed in such a way that direct lithing is no longer possible.

Exactly!

I currently use the Oriental FB VC Warmtone bought a few weeks ago. I get some results, not always convincing but I am still experiencing to get the right developer's dilution, the right temperature, etc... The plain Oriental FB VC does not seem to with well though.

lantau · Nov 3, 2017

Rudeofus said:
Based on many statements online and elsewhere I got a pack of this Fomatone, and it didn't lith at all. Only then did I find a document on Tim Rudman's page, which confirms my suspicion: Foma changed their emulsion a few years ago and there is no direct lithing with new Fomatone.

This is why I think this thread is important: times change, papers change, and most info found online and in books is horribly outdated. Most papers highly recommended in Tim Rudman's book are no longer available, or have been changed in such a way that direct lithing is no longer possible.

They changed the emulsion and changed it again, so that it can lith. I've only read about lith dev, so far. But I have Fomatone paper, which should lith, according to the emulsion number. The quoted information from Rudman is in this thread:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...one-paper-coming-news-from-tim-rudman.119316/

I haven't had the time yet to try out my Moersch Easylith. Besides the Fomatone I have ancient, badly stored Agfa papers (pre and post Gefaert) which came with my enlarger. Wonder if they might do anything...

MarkL · Nov 3, 2017

Don't forget Slavich Unibrom. Actually I believe the US distributor is branding it as Galaxy paper (on B&H's website it does say Slavich though). I hope to test it today and hope the emulsion hasn't changed.

Dali · Nov 3, 2017

Isn't Fomatone similar to Oriental Warmtone?

teejay · Nov 3, 2017

If you use Fb there's quite an active group on there - each post lists the paper and dev used (well most of the time) so that should give you a good reference point:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/315339078572684

faberryman · Nov 3, 2017

teejay said:
If you use Fb there's quite an active group on there - each post lists the paper and dev used (well most of the time) so that should give you a good reference point.

Lith printers use all sorts of out of date and discontinued papers. There is no guarantee that the paper noted is from the latest emulsion batch. Quite the opposite.

WHof · Nov 3, 2017

From the Large Format site:
Bergger Portrait matt 300g liths beautifully and very fast.
the supermatt heavy texture is wonderfull. In Moresch EasyLith it gives a range of browns.

Bergger NB Art is quite grainy, takes quite a time to lith but works as well.

RauschenOderKorn · Nov 4, 2017

"OEM Papers" in current production:

Fomatone and Fomabrom (did not lith for some time, see Tim Rudman´s newsletter)
Slavich Unibrom
Ilford Warmtone FB (particular process, see Bob Carnie´s video )
Adox Lupex (paper for contact printing!)

You can find some of these papers rebranded as Arista or other trade names.

Lith Paper which might hit the market sooner or later: Adox Polywarmton

Legacy papers available in Germany through the bay, which I have successfully tested :
all of Orwo B* & BB*, Foma Neobrom, Agfa MCC & MCP, Maco/Cachet/Fotokemika RC-F, Argenta Brom

thefizz · Nov 5, 2017

Plenty of stock at www.thephotoshop.ie of the original Fomatone MG Classic 133 "Velvet" paper in 9.5x12 and 12x16 sizes which liths beautifully.

Ron789 · Nov 5, 2017

I recently stared Lith printing, first with Ilford Art 300 that worked quite well but did not give a very strong lith effect.
Then I purchased Fomatone 131 and that produces really beautiful lith prints, with very strong lith effect. See example:

Flamenco Lith Print

Ron789
Nov 5, 2017
2

Available papers compatible with Lith printing

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