Do you use primarily FB or RC paper?

[Petzi]

OK, here comes my first poll.

Do you use primarily RC or FB paper for your black & white work?

 

[jim appleyard]

I use mostly RC because of the cost and convenience. However, IMHO, NOTHING beats the look of a well composed, properlyprocessed FB print. I save the FB for a photo that will be matted, framed and hung on the wall. The work prints, snapshots, etc., get printed of RC.

 

[Petzi]

Thank you. That makes sense.

 

[roteague]

I'm not going to vote, because I really don't do B&W. However, as an observation, from someone not in tune with the world of B&W printing, images that I have seen printed on FB paper seem to really "sing".

 

[Ole]

I don't have a large output, and most of the prints I make are for print exchanges and similar. So I make the best prints I can - on graded FB.

 

[Petzi]

Wow, graded FB. That's very elitist nowadays.

 

[Ole]

Wow, graded FB. That's very elitist nowadays.

Not really - I discovered 99% of my negatives printed best on grade 2. So to avoid any differences between my two enlargers (one 35mm to MF, one MF to 5x7") due to differences in colour temperature and so on, I buy grade 2 paper. Slight adjustments to contrast are done by adjusting the developer, if I need more than +- 1/2 grade I've messed up and will find an other negative.

 

[Bruce Osgood]

VC FB ONLY. For test, for workprint, for finished print.

 

[ann]

there are a lot of us who still use graded fiber paper. I'm with OLe on this one.

 

[Petzi]

Slight adjustments to contrast are done by adjusting the developer, if I need more than +- 1/2 grade I've messed up and will find an other negative.

That makes me wonder whether you control contrast with film development, or whether you just don't care about subjects with unusual contrast. When I last used graded paper (before Record Rapid was discontinued), I always kept at least grade 2 and 3 around. From time to time I used grade 1.

 

[Marc Leest]

I make every print FB, favorite was Agfa MCC, using now Ilford WT FB, getting some Forte warmtone.
Using Kentmere Kentona and Fortezo as graded papers.

 

[Ole]

That makes me wonder whether you control contrast with film development, or whether you just don't care about subjects with unusual contrast.

Most of my subjects have "unusual contrast". I control "meso-contrast" through development, and gross area contrast though burning and dodging (although I never dodge, only burn. Sometimes I burn in everything but one tiny spot).

 

[Stoo Batchelor]

Hi Petzi

I am a strictly fibre man. I say this without any snobbery involved. I personally feel that since the move from R.C to FB, my printing has become more controled, more focused and I feel I have a more desirerable end result (IMHO).

After recently transfering my favourites to fibre, my portfolio is looking completely different now.

Having said that, I do have some negatives that I just can't make work on my choice of paper. (any one fancy printing my 'Blea Tarn, After the rain' on fibre for me?)

Regards

Stoo

 

[argus]

That's a tricky one.

I only do test prints on RC. Everything that's wordth showing to someone else gets printed on fiber.

The only alternative process I currently do, is gum.

G

 

[Alex Hawley]

Nahhhh, not at all. I use both graded and VC, but primarily graded. Some would have said its very obsolete. Not really.

 

[Petzi]

Well either the majority here uses FB, or the RC users don't admit to it.

 

[MenacingTourist]

I'll admit to using RC. I'm just starting my printing journey and got a bunch of RC for ultra cheap. Once I burn through that supply I hope to try out some bromide paper for contact printing my 5x7 negs. It's all contact printing actually as I don't own an enlarger. Baby steps...

 

[Walt Sharp Jr.]

When I started printing in 1946 we only had fibre. But when RC came out I found the the work/file prints were miuch easier to andle on RC. Used glossy printed through a #1 filter until I found what chnages were to be made.If the print had merit the finals would be on FB. All varible contrast. (Used VC, Dupont's Varigam in the late 40's, FB.)
If I'm making snapshots or prints to give away. RC usually wins.

 

[Jim Jones]

Mostly RC VC, sometimes FB RC.

 

[Sportera]

Started out using RC, then a mixture of both, now only fiber. I look back on my pics I have left and the RC ones are nice but a Toned fiber print stands out, always.

 

[smieglitz]

I have never understood why anyone would use RC for their personal work. You need a quick print of a house for a real estate ad or something to go in a newspaper, OK, RC is convenient and adequate. But for fine personal work, no way. To me it looks like Crap. When I was printing in the conventional darkroom I wouldn't even use the stuff for proof prints or work prints because the image looks so different on a good fiber-based surface.

If you've never printed on fiber do yourself a favor and try it out. Ilford Multigrade Warmtone with selenium toner is a good place to start. Put that RC Crap back on the shelf.

Did I mention I think RC is Crap? With a capital C...

Joe

 

[Curt]

I use fiber based paper because I want my work to be fresh in a thousand years.

Not really, I like the look and feel of fiber based prints and that's what I am used to. And like Ole I stock grade 2 and a little of grade 3. I aim for grade 2 with my negatives and if I can't print them then I don't go to extremes to do it. Some of the things people do to get a print is absurd. Unless it is an earth shaking event that is worth millions then pass it up and move on.

It reminds me of Art Center where the negatives are checked by a lab assistant before you can print. If the negative is not in print range then you must reshoot it. No exceptions. I was shocked when it happened to me the first time. It teaches you to get a printable negative in a hurry.

Curt

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Another graded user mainly--Azo until it runs out, and Cachet-Maco Expo/J&C Nuance/Efke Emaks (all the same stuff). I control contrast in the negative, so I usually can do fine with grade 2 and 3 and development controls like amidol and water bath, and I've got some low contrast paper and grade 4 on hand and some VC for negs that need something else, but I don't use it that often. If I've got a flat neg, I usually use selenium intensification. Another option for an overly contrasty neg is to save it for albumen printing.

 

[Markok765]

I have never understood why anyone would use RC for their personal work. You need a quick print of a house for a real estate ad or something to go in a newspaper, OK, RC is convenient and adequate. But for fine personal work, no way. To me it looks like Crap. When I was printing in the conventional darkroom I wouldn't even use the stuff for proof prints or work prints because the image looks so different on a good fiber-based surface.

If you've never printed on fiber do yourself a favor and try it out. Ilford Multigrade Warmtone with selenium toner is a good place to start. Put that RC Crap back on the shelf.

Did I mention I think RC is Crap? With a capital C...

Joe

Rc is good for begginers who dont have arcival washing, toniing. my best negs will be printed on FB paper once i get a good washer

 

[fschifano]

I too will gladly admit to using RV paper and lots of it relative to my consumption of fiber paper. It's cheap and easy to work with Test prints and contact sheets always go onto RC. I do a lot of experimenting and very little of it is worth keeping.