Difference between RC and FB paper - contrast

[tkamiya]

I *just* started printing using FB paper. The paper in question is Ilford MGIV FB glossy. I have been using RC version of the same paper for over a year now.

I am not sure if my record keeping is poor or if I'm seeing things but FB paper seems to have about 3/4 grade higher contrast than RC counter part. Using the same negative that printed in certain way using grade 3 on RC, I had to bump the filter down to 2 1/2 to print similarly and even then it was a little more contrasty. I haven't tried grade 2 yet but I am thinking that would be a tad too soft seeing this trend.

Granted, it'd be rather silly to emulate look of RC using FB but I had the image dialed in juuuuuust right on RC. If not identical, I am trying to keep mood of the print the same.

Am I seeing things or is this how FB paper in general react?

Yes, both were completely dry when I compared them.

 

[Vaughn]

Some of that could be due to the differences in paper surfaces. Generally, the more gloss, the more appearent contrast due to less light scattering on the surface of the paper. You seem to have observed the opposite, so what in the heck am I saying?! I don't know. But anyway, the differences in the paper surfaces is enough to make contrast judgements between the two more subjective than objective. I guess that is what I am trying to get at.

 

[Wade D]

You're not seeing things. Even if the papers are the same brand there will be differences between RC and fiber based. Look at the characteristic curves. You will likely see that the fiber based paper has a slightly steeper curve than the RC. I normally print RC at grade 3 but will print the same image softer with fiber base.

 

[tkamiya]

I have to re-learn this all over again....

 

[vyshemirsky]

I have to re-learn this all over again....

Why? Contrast adjustment procedures are still the same, just different paper.
The only difference is if you are trying to repeat your print that you have earlier made using RC paper. In this case you have to run one more test strip for new contrast grade, and that's it.

 

[tkamiya]

Well.... the shade of gray is little different. Sheen of the surface is little different. Reaction of mid tone is different. All of these affect mood of the print. Adjusting contrast is an easy part. Rest is not.... I had it to a point where I can reliably create what I wanted with this brand of RC.

 

[hpulley]

At first I had hoped that I could use RC paper for test prints and save FB paper for the final print but sadly this does not work as you have discovered. There are enough differences that I have to start over when going to fiber so now I just use whatever I intend to use for the final print from tests, straight prints, working prints and the finals. This is more expensive but you don't save any by starting with RC unless you stay with RC.

With warmtone this is even more apparent, they seem like completely different papers IMO. The warmtone RC is quite brown in its base which you don't get in the fiber unless you tone it or wash it for long enough to get rid of the brighteners.

Unless you ferrotype them, glossy RC is way glossier than glossy fiber so if a super wet look is what I'm after, I use RC. I really like the matt fiber, it looks like fine art in my eyes and feels like it in my hands.

Ilford says RC will last as long as fiber and says that under glass you can't tell the difference. Might be true but perhaps that's more reason not to put prints under glass... to me there is nothing like an unmounted print in your hands to really see the picture, hold it... and there fiber is the only one for me, especially the warm tone semi-matt. So I like bromophen too.