First time Lith Printing

[pstake]

I'm getting ready to try my hand at Lith printing for the first time. I have a lot of Ilford IV Fiber paper and am wondering if that will work for Lith? If not, that's a bummer because I have so much of it will have to buy some different paper.

And in that case, can anyone recommend some paper? The largest I can print is 11x14.

I also have some Arista RC ... but I'm thinking RC + Lith is not a good idea.

I have a couple rolls of IR film and a Lith kit that have been patiently waiting for Spring. I'm pretty excited!

 

[Mark Fisher]

Ilforg MGIV doesn't lith well. The Arista RC probably will lith as it is Fomabrom. If it is like the glossy Arista Fiber, it will be quite grainy, somewhat warm, and a bit hard to control the contrast...it can be pretty cool. I think the easiest to learn on is Fomatone, but most warmtone papers will work to one degree or another.

 

[walbergb]

Ditto for MG IV not good for lith. +1 for Fomatone (FB or RC). If you haven't already, get Tim Rudman's lith book. Go to Tim Rudman's website for some free videos and articles. One of his articles reviews different papers and the lith process.

 

[pstake]

Thank you for those suggestions. After I wrote this, I realized that I still had some Ilford warmtone, which is on Rudman's list of papers, although it's not a top recommendation from him.

For anyone else who stumbles upon this thread looking for a list of papers to lith, here is a link:

http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/processes/lith/lithprint-materials-update

 

[Bob Carnie]

Ilford Warmtone is one of the best lith papers... it is just a tricky one to work with.. you must pull the paper when the blacks just start showing and the image will explode in the fix..
contrary to other good lith papers where you pull the paper when the blacks look right.

tough one to cut your teeth on but do not be mislead , it is a great lith paper and it tones really nice.
The fomatone 131 is a great paper to start with and is easily available from freestyle or B & H if you are on the east coast.

Thank you for those suggestions. After I wrote this, I realized that I still had some Ilford warmtone, which is on Rudman's list of papers, although it's not a top recommendation from him.

For anyone else who stumbles upon this thread looking for a list of papers to lith, here is a link:

http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/processes/lith/lithprint-materials-update

 

[pstake]

Hi, Bob I actually tried some last night. The first print I made was underexposed (I think). Results on ilford Warmtone were pretty remarkable although a bit underexposed. The second one, I think I overdeveloped. It came out with black bars running across the image in the darker areas ... which is, I guess, why you pull the print when blacks start to show.

Thanks for the insight!

 

[pstake]

My first Lith print. The scan is horrible. The print has very nice tonality and is tack sharp. The barn practically stands off the page. Think I lucked out, pulled the print at just the right time, and exposed it just the right amount. Thanks for the advice, everyone.

Scanned with a basic document scanner at work.