Contrast Conversion for Kodak Paper and Ilford MG Filters

[pandino]

I just ran into a few hundred sheets of old B&W printing paper, as well as a great collection of B&W chemicals from a guy who had gone digital.

I've tried printing some of the VC paper (Kodak Polyfiber and Polyprint,) but the paper doesn't seem to be responding to the MG filters as I would expect. I'm especially having trouble with low contrast negs.

Does anybody have an approx grade conversion for Ilford MG filters with these papers? Is the paper just too old? Maybe the emulsion has shifted in how it responds to the spectra. Would color filters help in this case and where to start? The paper doesn't seem to be fogged as far as I can tell.

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm new enough to printing that I've never had paper long enough for it to age to his extent.

 

[glennfromwy]

In my experience, the difference in the two filter systems is negligible. Somewhere, maybe on Ilford's web site in the tech publications, is a chart for the two. I've never noticed any difference. Maybe others would? Your paper is likely too old if you're getting no response to filration. Does it come out kind of a muddy gray, low contrast?

 

[pandino]

Does it come out kind of a muddy gray, low contrast?

Glenn,
I'm getting prints from about Grade 0-3. The low contrast negs are pretty hopeless, even with a #5 filter. I guess I'll just use this stuff for the higher contrast neagatives. Thanks for the help!

 

[ann]

paper can lose contrast with age, so it may be the paper not the filters.

 

[nworth]

The two seem to be very similar. The problem is how each specific paper responds. There is a huge variation in the effect of paper contrast filters (either Kodak or Ilford) from paper to paper. My guess is that the variation between filter sets may also depend on what paper you use.