FB exposure times vs. RC

Lemon Frosted · Jan 14, 2007

I've never used FB papers before, but I was recently assured that I don't need to wait until I've got a force washer and a drying oven to work with it, so I'm going to give it a go for some special prints I'd like to make.

But I have a question about exposure times: what is the relative ISO of FB paper in comparison to RC? Is it a bad idea to make exposure time tests on RC test strips and use those times for the FB print?

JBrunner · Jan 14, 2007

Make your tests on the fiber paper. The qualities of the fiber paper are different enough aside from speed to make that a good idea for the best print you can make.

Dave Miller · Jan 14, 2007

I do any work prints I want on RC paper, and transfer to fibre when I have an idea of what I want to do with it. You will soon get used to the speed and contrast differences between the two types - provided you do stick to two, at least to begin with. The manufacturers instructions will give you the ISO rating, but you will still need to do test prints.

JBrunner · Jan 14, 2007

There you have it- two completely different sets of advice, both equally valid. I love photography.

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Jan 14, 2007

Between the RC and the FB version of a same paper (e.g. Ilford MGIV), the speeds are close, but bear in mind that the FB paper is more malleable through development than the RC is. By developing longer and adjusting exposure accordingly you can achive more subtle contrast control than with RC. That takes some time and experimentations though.

David Brown · Jan 14, 2007

JBrunner said:
There you have it- two completely different sets of advice, both equally valid. I love photography.

Yep. I use both Multigrade RC and FB. I work on RC until I'm ready to make "final" prints. (like Mr Miller said) In my practice, I have found that I have to increase exposure for the FB by a factor of 1.75. But, your experience will be different.

Jean Noire · Jan 14, 2007

I agree with Jim here. Save yourself a lot of heartache and lost time and material by testing on the same fibre that you intend to use for the finished print.
They also react differently to the developer you use and it is no good, for example trying test strips on Ilford MG RC and then trying to print a final image on Forte PWT fibre. While ISO speeds may be given these are only guides and in my experience to be taken with scepticism.
But, of course we all have differing experiences.
Hope this helps,
Regards
John

Lemon Frosted · Jan 14, 2007

For what I have coming up, I'm starting to think that it'd be best to just make everything on the FB.

I've found some old negatives of my mother's parents from when they were younger, and my plan was to make a print on Ilford MG-IV FB (with the exception of my normal developer [Agfa = 4$/500ml], everything is Ilford around here) for each of their children and them (9 prints in total). The 2-3 sheet attrition to test strips is fairly low, in this case, instead of eating up half a pack as can happen when you move quickly from frame to frame.

Now, from what I've heard if you air dry FB Glossy it will come out unglazed but with a drying oven you can glaze it. Is there a suitable, consistent way to glaze without an oven?

avandesande · Jan 15, 2007

Weston used a simple tray washer and most of his prints are still good. Some times photography requires less thinking and more doing!

JBrunner · Jan 15, 2007

Lemon Frosted said:
Now, from what I've heard if you air dry FB Glossy it will come out unglazed but with a drying oven you can glaze it. Is there a suitable, consistent way to glaze without an oven?

Air dried FB Glossy, as most of us do, is usually shiny enough for most tastes. I would suggest seeing how you like that before I worried about it too much. If you do want to take it a step further for some reason, you can use what I believe is called a ferrotype print dryer, but it is said to be a finicky PIA process.

fschifano · Jan 15, 2007

JBrunner said:
...If you do want to take it a step further for some reason, you can use what I believe is called a ferrotype print dryer, but it is said to be a finicky PIA process.

I can vouch for that. Ferrotyping is, you'll forgive my language, a giant PITA but it is a beautiful finish. Glossy, RC paper is supposed to look similar, but IMO it's not even close. There are a number of threads on this and other boards describing the ferrotyping process and you can investigate further if you like.

Lemon Frosted · Jan 15, 2007

Thank you, all. I just wanted to make sure about the glazing. If it were as easy as pulling out a hair dryer then, hey, why not give it a go, and you don't know if you don't ask.

FB exposure times vs. RC

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