Foma graded paper

[Rick Bennett]

I print with a cold light head. My efforts with Foma N glossy paper are not consistent. Foma N in 8x10 is one grade higher contrast than Foma N 11x14 paper. I've tested with the same negative, same magnification and same developers, Dektol and BW-65, and the results are clearly one grade apart. Has anyone else run into this problem?

 

[MDR]

Maybe it was labeled with wrong grade or you made a mistake and bought one paper in a lower and one in a higher grade. There shouldn't be any differences as they are coated at the same time and only later cut down to size.

 

[Simonh82]

Did you buy the packs at the same time? If so do they have the same or similar emulsion numbers? Could one of them have lost some contrast due to age?

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Several things could be working separately or together to give you (apparently) less contrast with the larger size paper.

First, if you're making an 8x10 print on the 8x10 paper and an 11x14 print of the same negative on the 11x14 paper, you are not making a real comparison. Larger prints almost always need a bit more contrast to look "right" than smaller ones. It's a characteristic of the way we see, not a difference in the paper. For a true comparison, you should make an 8x10 print on the 8x10 paper and then make that exact same-size print on a piece cut from the 11x14 paper.

Different paper batches differ slightly in characteristics, including contrast.

Paper loses contrast (and fogs) with age. You may simply have older, less-contrasty paper...

There may be more fog from scattered light/unsafe safelight, etc. at a greater degree of enlargement and the appropriately longer exposure time, which will affect contrast of the final print.

I assume you are using the same enlarging lens for each print, but if not, the choice of lens can definitely affect contrast of the print.

I have never tried to make a larger version of a smaller print by simply scaling up and using the same paper grade. I always start from scratch, albeit using the smaller version as a guide for manipulations, etc. and determine which grade I need as usual. Hoping for a match from different packs of paper is wishful thinking.

Best,

Doremus

 

[Rick Bennett]

Good morning Doremus, When I made my comparisons I printed both the 8x10 and 11x14 paper at the same magnification, the 11x14 magnification, with identical exposure and development time. I think my comparison was valid. I've also run into this with 2 different batches of the Foma 11x14 paper. I never ran into this problem during all of the years I used Agfa Brovira, Kodak Kodabromide or Oriental, all of which were graded papers. Rick

 

[Rick Bennett]

I agree there shouldn't be any difference. Perhaps if I ordered both the 8x10 and 11x14 from the same emulsion batch it would make a difference. Perhaps Foma paper simply is not consistent from one emulsion batch to the other?

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Good morning Doremus, When I made my comparisons I printed both the 8x10 and 11x14 paper at the same magnification, the 11x14 magnification, with identical exposure and development time. I think my comparison was valid. I've also run into this with 2 different batches of the Foma 11x14 paper. I never ran into this problem during all of the years I used Agfa Brovira, Kodak Kodabromide or Oriental, all of which were graded papers. Rick

Rick,

It seems you've eliminated that variable! I would tend to attribute the difference to aging or to manufacturing variables. It could even be that Foma has made some small changes to their emulsions. I know that Adox changed the hardening in their papers, which increased the contrast a bit. Maybe Foma is doing something similar. Or maybe the paper just doesn't store that well without losing contrast. You may have to work a bit to ensure you have a fresh batch.

Best,

Doremus

 

[Rick Bennett]

Hello Doremus,

I agree, it must be aging, perhaps on the store shelves, or differences in manufacturing. I've got stocks of old Oriental and Adox Nuance paper which I keep frozen until use. Freezing them pretty much eliminates any changes in paper contrast. I've just started some testing with Ilford's graded Galerie paper and it seems to be the best graded paper left on the market. I'm still mourning the loss of Adox graded Nuance paper. It was outstanding. I just don't think that the variable contrast papers are as good as the graded papers. The manufacturers are trying to please too many people with one paper. Such is life.

Yours,

Rick

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Hello Doremus,

I agree, it must be aging, perhaps on the store shelves, or differences in manufacturing. I've got stocks of old Oriental and Adox Nuance paper which I keep frozen until use. Freezing them pretty much eliminates any changes in paper contrast. I've just started some testing with Ilford's graded Galerie paper and it seems to be the best graded paper left on the market. I'm still mourning the loss of Adox graded Nuance paper. It was outstanding. I just don't think that the variable contrast papers are as good as the graded papers. The manufacturers are trying to please too many people with one paper. Such is life.

Yours,

Rick

Yeah, I miss the Nuance (aka EMaks) too. I see that B&H now has Slavich papers in stock. Too bad Freestyle dropped them, but I'll likely pay the extra shipping from NY to get some Slavich again.

Best,

Doremus

 

[Rick Bennett]

I take it you like the Slavich paper. I've never used it. What do you think of it? I sent the emulsion batch numbers for the Foma paper to Freestyle. They're looking in to it for me.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I take it you like the Slavich paper. I've never used it. What do you think of it? I sent the emulsion batch numbers for the Foma paper to Freestyle. They're looking in to it for me.

I've made quite a few good prints on Slavich Unibrom graded papers. It reminds me of the old Ilfobrom papers, which I also liked; neutral tone with a bright white base. I used it a lot before Freestyle discontinued it. The higher contrast grades were gratifyingly contrasty and worked well for those few negs that needed a lot of contrast. I get similar, but not quite as dramatic results with the MCC-110 VC paper with a lot of magenta filtration. When I get my darkroom up and running this summer, I'll definitely be ordering some Slavich from B&H.

FWIW, the old Nuance/Emaks toned a tad bit prettier than the Slavich, but the Slavich still had a very pleasing result in seleinium.

I'm now using old stock of Emaks and Kentmere graded along with Ilford Gallerie graded and MC-110 VC papers. I have yet to try the Foma VC papers, which I've heard good things about. The Foma graded papers are good, but have a bit yellower paper base (or baryta coating or whatever - at any rate, they're not quite as brilliant white as other papers), which I don't like as well as some other papers . Also, the Foma graded papers tone browner rather than eggplant/purple in selenium. I do use them though.

Best,

Doremus