Entirely Flat Fibre Base : ILFORD Photo :

[Simon R Galley]

Dear All,

I notice in a couple of threads people discussing the floopyness and more significantly the curl characteristics of Fibre ( baryta ) papers.

Just to let APUG members know, we have developed a new manufacturing technique that keeps FB papers entirely flat during manufacture and finishing, it also seems to encourage the paper to REMAIN very, very flat after the processing and drying process.

We believe this will significantly ease handling, movement during exposure, borderless printing, processing and more importantly the drying and mounting process, we are currently testing initial coatings using the new technique, we are pretty sure using the new technique does not change any of the sensitometric or other characteristics of the coated papers, but I am sure
you will understand we need to complete this work before moving to the new manufacturing process for our Fibre Base paper ranges.

Before you ask, my guess is we will change to the new process in early in 2007.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[Kathy Harcom]

Hi Simon,

Sounds like an excellent improvement for FB users! I shall await news with interest.

Kathy

 

[Ole]

I'm really looking forward to trying that paper.

Good work (and good luck)!

 

[Jon Shiu]

That would be amazing! (We currently have many stacks of curly papers awaiting flattening before going in boxes.)

Jon

 

[Richard Wasserman]

This sounds very interesting and a nice improvement. I assume that the new process would not affect the archival properties of the paper?

Richard Wasserman

 

[Nicole]

That's great news Simon. I look forward to trying some samples here in Australia.

Kind regards,
Nicole

 

[Travis Nunn]

Man, that will sure beat the hell out of having to buy a drymount press to flatten my prints.

 

[catem]

Mmm...Ilford goes from strength to strength - good news
Cate

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

I am so glad to hear this. Curling paper drives me nuts.

 

[Jerevan]

Good to know, I look forward to it.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Will this be on the current product line including Warmtone?

 

[don sigl]

I am assuming that any of the processes do not negatively impact the archiability of the image?.... How about the look and feel of the paper?

 

[André E.C.]

Fantastic news, Simon!

Cheers

André

 

[pentaxuser]

Sounds great. I have been a dyed in the wool RC man myself up to now but if I could be sure of avoiding the problem of curl or at least solving it easily, I might give it a go despite my water bill rising a little.

pentaxuser

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Sounds promising. Will this also improve drydown characteristics?

 

[yzhu]

It is like a dream has come true. Thank you, Ilford, for thinking of comsumers and improving the quality of your products. I am looking forward to seeing this wonderful product.
Yong-ran Zhu

 

[juan]

Great. I have lots of trouble in the humid summer making 8x10 contact prints in my vacuum easel. The paper curls beneath the negative before I can get the glass down. This new process sounds like a solution.
juan

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

This has to be the solution to a century and a half-old problem! Who said there wasn't anything left to be done in traditional materials?

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Please everybody, avert your eyes while I grovel at Simon's feet.

Murray

 

[Blighty]

Nice one Simon! Long live Ilford!!

 

[JohnArs]

Yes thats really great so then I will use the old paper only als teststrip!
So I do not ned my drying press anymore, it sounds like a dream!
Love it make it happen;-)))

 

[Alex Hawley]

I'll try some when it becomes available.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Great news, Simon. It's nice to hear of such a helpful development.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear All,

A couple of people have mentioned archival stability...we have no reason to believe that would be affected in any way, but it will be checked along with all the other performance characteristics of the paper.

Kind Regards

Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[highpeak]

It should be wonderful christmas gift for 2007. Thanks, Simon.

A flat FB paper would make my dream come true, and I like the ilford FB paper in combination with the new warm and cool tone developers.

Alex W.