Best ways to use expired paper

[john_s]

Benzotriazole is more soluble in alkaline water. A bit of sodium sulphite would be enough to help, and even a little carbonate wouldn't hurt the developer. See attached, copied from the web years ago from a US manufacturer's site, name forgotten sorry.

 

[Don_ih]

I have fairly soft and mineral-free tap water

Mine is the opposite.

I actually have no problem with the solution I make. I'm used to using it as a paper-developer additive and using it for mixing any film or paper developer that calls for it. I used to use distilled water for developers but discovered there was no difference - so I stopped. I agree that the benzotriazole would likely dissolve more readily in distilled water.

 

[Don_ih]

See attached

Explains why @Doremus Scudder 's solution crystallizes at 2% in distilled water. It doesn't quite make it into solution, according to that chart.

 

[Bill Burk]

Kodak Anti-Fog #2 comes in a pill with instructions for how much to add. I use it for film

For paper I keep some potassium bromide around. I didn’t use it on that batch of pictures but might give it a go next time. I usually just add it like I’m feeding goldfish.

 

[Don_ih]

For paper I keep some potassium bromide around.

I find benzotriazole does a better job of just keeping the highlight fog restrained. Potassium bromide seems to also weaken the midtones and, if you use too much, even the shadows will turn brownish. It'll impart a warmer tone, overall, where benzotriazole will cool the tone.
That makes potassium bromide a better choice for warm-tone papers. But, even then, I find you need to boost the alkalinity to compensate for the inherent muddying it does.

Kodak Anti-Fog 2 is 6-nitrobenzimidazole nitrate (apparently) -- and I have no idea what that is....

 

[Bill Burk]

I remember greenish shadows with Galerie. The Kodak Anti-fog is difficult to break up and dissolve. I might try it again sometime.

I fed the fish today. 8 oz Dektol, 16 oz water, 500 mg potassium bromide.

Kodabromide F3

Last batch I developed the usual 3 minutes, but to avoid fog I developed 1 1/2 minutes.

I also think I turned the package over and pulled paper from the bottom because I was trying to avoid creasing the corner.

Exposure 50 seconds instead of 40.

Plus I have the table from the garage sale so there was less awkward juggling.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Benzotriazole is more soluble in alkaline water. A bit of sodium sulphite would be enough to help, and even a little carbonate wouldn't hurt the developer. See attached, copied from the web years ago from a US manufacturer's site, name forgotten sorry.

Thanks for this, John. Good to know,

Doremus

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I like expired papers, especially matte, for carbon transfer.

 

[cliveh]

The most obvious use for expired photographic paper (as any photographic lecturer will tell you) is to make Lumen prints.

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[Patrick Robert James]

I've never found Benzo to help all that much unless the fog is slight. I think it works better with film. Just an opinion though.

I'll second the Lumen print for old paper. I have a huge stash of old paper I let go bad (talk about dumb...) Pile must be like 4 feet high. Pretty much useless for anything except Lith and Lumen. I don't have the patience for Lith, so I give the Lithable papers to a friend who is really good at that. Lumen prints though are so easy to make. Just make a neg on the stinkjet and put it in a contact frame in the sun for a few hours. Then fix. Doesn't really get any easier than that. Most of the Lumen prints you see online are "enhanced". I prefer them straight. They are low contrast but can have some beautiful colors. Here is one on Azo. (you fanatics out there- don't shoot me because I used a sheet of Azo for a Lumen print... Lol.)

 

[hiroh]

I just tried some of those expired papers for lith printing, and OMG, it’s so cool! I feel like I’ll never go back to traditional printing, lol. This is the look I’ve always loved but could never achieve with traditional printing, no matter how contrasty I made my negatives or if I use high-contrast filters. Lith printing has this organic grittiness that I absolutely adore. Plus, I think these older papers have something special that modern ones just don’t, or maybe I’ve become so accustomed to modern papers that they feel… ordinary.

Anyway, lith printing is so much fun, and I can’t wait to print again tomorrow.