Fine Art or not Fine Art Paper

DimasShishkin · May 12, 2011

Hello! Sorry, if my English is Bad....

I don't find information about what paper is for "FineArt" printing and is not for "FineArt" printing.
Is there such a difference.

For example.
In Russia there is an old opinion that the RC-paper is not designed for such printing, etc….

I would consciously choose the paper for my prints.

Or is it only area of personal preference and only?

RalphLambrecht · May 12, 2011

Welcome to APUG!

There as many opinions on this topic as there are members on APUG. In the end, you need to realize that perception is truth. In other words, if your fine-art customer thinks RC is inferior to FB, you need to use FB, because otherwise, your customer will go somewhere else.

Jeff Kubach · May 12, 2011

I guess it depends on what you think, I like both. But like Ralph says it depends on the person who is buying your print.

Jeff

DimasShishkin · May 12, 2011

Thanks
In this moment, my craft is not "High Level". But I have some progress. In addition Russia is not country where "Silver Print" is sell successfully. I and my colleague prepare the exhibition. It is not easily for me. I do not want a few years to know that my work was gone in vain, because the paper does not quality as much as is usually required.

For example: Well done, but paper is bad quality. Therefore prints is not excellent.

stillsilver · May 12, 2011

I have seen great prints on RC and I have seen bad prints on fiber. You can make good prints on both. What you like the best should be your choice. BUT, a paying collector may have their own choice that you must please.

Welcome to the site.

Mike

chriscrawfordphoto · May 12, 2011

DimasShishkin said:
Thanks
In this moment, my craft is not "High Level". But I have some progress. In addition Russia is not country where "Silver Print" is sell successfully. I and my colleague prepare the exhibition. It is not easily for me. I do not want a few years to know that my work was gone in vain, because the paper does not quality as much as is usually required.

For example: Well done, but paper is bad quality. Therefore prints is not excellent.

Fiber base paper is usually used for exhibition prints and RC for proofing and portfolios that might get damaged from being carried around and looked at a lot. Both give excellent image quality, but Fiber is thought to give prints that last longer.

When you say silver prints do not sell successfully, do you mean people in Russia want digital prints, like inkjets, or are you saying that photographs do not sell well no matter what process you use?

R gould · May 12, 2011

I currently print my fine art work on RC, and my customers don't seem to mind, in fact I have had several who couldn't tell the difference, and didn't care, it is not the paper it is printed on so much as the image and the way it is printed, if processed properly RC paper is as good as fiber,and I will continue to use RC paper as, quite simply, I prefer the RC, and I think that I print better on RC than on Fiber, but I will also keep some fiber in stock for that very odd customer that wants a print on Fiber and is willing and able to pay a lot more for the privelege of a FB print.
Richard

chriscrawfordphoto · May 12, 2011

R gould said:
I currently print my fine art work on RC, and my customers don't seem to mind, in fact I have had several who couldn't tell the difference, and didn't care, it is not the paper it is printed on so much as the image and the way it is printed, if processed properly RC paper is as good as fiber,and I will continue to use RC paper as, quite simply, I prefer the RC, and I think that I print better on RC than on Fiber, but I will also keep some fiber in stock for that very odd customer that wants a print on Fiber and is willing and able to pay a lot more for the privelege of a FB print.
Richard

Ctein discovered several years ago that RC prints framed behind glass often developed brown stains from something to do with the titanium dioxide used to make the white on the base reacting with the silver. So far as I know, nothing was ever done by manufacturers to change the paper formulations to fix the issue.

Peter Schrager · May 12, 2011

bottom line is that some RC paper might last forever but why take the chance to find out in 5 years the print is worthless
Besr, Peter

DimasShishkin · May 12, 2011

chriscrawfordphoto said:
When you say silver prints do not sell successfully, do you mean people in Russia want digital prints, like inkjets, or are you saying that photographs do not sell well no matter what process you use?

For many peoples in Russia, photography is only photography..... "Hand made" is out of fashion. If you want make some money, you have to work in advertising photography, wedding photography.....

Many people do not print his photographs. They published it in Internet gallery.
It is difficult for understanding, why anyone should pay ***$ for one photograph.

But i live in Volgograd. Moskow-sity, have little market of Fine Art Photography.
Avarage income per month in Volgograd - around 500$ - 700$.....

DimasShishkin · May 12, 2011

Thanks for the replies, they are important for me!!!

R gould · May 12, 2011

I have printed on RC paper since it was first introudced, and while the early RC was not as archival as FB, due,as far as I know, due to ''free radicals'', that problem has long been solved, and Ilford state that there is no reason that RC processed properly should not last as long as FB, and I have many prints hanging on my wall, mounted and framed behind glass, made over the last 30 years or so, and I have yet to see any deterotion in then, or any RC print that I have made,or have sold, indeed, I have yet to have any customer complaints, and as I live on a very small Island,just 5 miles by 4 miles if prints had gone wrong they would very soon be knocking on my door, so I would say that from my personal experience RC has proved to be as archival as FB, the only real differience is in the ''feel'' of the final print, in the hand.
Richard

paul ron · May 12, 2011

One of the resons they like RC is for the free radicals. Everyone in Russia is a free radical.

You'll have to start selling your prints to tourists, not locals in order to make some money. Go to the square on the weekends n display your art... print on FB and brag about quality n archival analog longevity over digital pop tart posters. You are a photographer.

.

artonpaper · May 12, 2011

I think RC paper is inferior to fiber base paper as far as image quality is concerned. Every semester I get a student who likes RC because it's faster. I have them make a print on each. The result is always the same, the fiber prints are deeper and richer looking. I tell them, if you want ease and speed, make an inkjet print. I just made some prints on Berrger warmtone paper and it is a very good paper.

RalphLambrecht · May 12, 2011

I knew this would not stay easy. Here are a few responses to the comments above.

1. If you are fairly new to printing, stick to RC. It's easier and faster to learn printing with.
2. Eventually, you may want to move up to FB. It is the classic fine-art paper.
3. If treated properly FB will last longer than RC due to the polypropylene layer in RC.
4. Properly processed RC will last longer then poorly processed FB.
5. It's easy to properly process RC. FB processing mistakes are common.
6. Nothing last forever and neither RC nor FB can match the longevity of stone tablets.
7. RC has a life expectancy of 100 years (LE 100). FB can theoretically reach LE 500.
8. Heat, light, UV radiation, humidity, ozone and industrial gases are common enemies of RC and FB prints.
9. Ctein's report was done with a bad batch of Agfa RC paper. This error was later corrected by Agfa.
10. If you want your prints to last, you must tone them in selenium or, better yet, sulfide.
11. A treatment in Agfa Sistan will prevent some issues related to RC paper without changing the image tone.

DimasShishkin · May 14, 2011

Many thanks again!!!
And for the warm welcome ...

Bill Burk · May 14, 2011

Hi DimasShishkin,

As the artist, you need to create what feels and looks right to you. I like the feel of my FB prints. So I encourage you to try at least one package of FB and fix and wash thoroughly. Let them dry on screens to a natural gloss. Others prefer RC. I don't have a ferrotype drum like the old days to re-create true gloss in FB prints, but real gloss appeals to my eyes. So RC can deliver truly glossy results. Try some of that too. Then do what feels and looks right to you. I currently like FB for my work.

Fine Art or not Fine Art Paper

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