Foma Paper, 132 Surface Characteristic

[Richard Jepsen]

This paper is labeled as
1 - Double-Weight Baryta
3 - Cream-Color
3 - Matt
Can anyone using this paper shed light on the matt surface? I read it is not dead matt. If its anything like their matt, Nature 532-11 I would be a buyer. The discontinued Nature 532-11, to my eye, had a semi matt, velvet like surface, with a tactile feel. No strong reflections but in angled light had a slight sheen. I wonder if the two surfaces, 133 v 532 are the same?

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

132 is semi-matt, not totally matt, and it has no velvet like surface, and no tactile feel. I'm sorry! Totally flat surface.
Beautiful tone as 131 but with a slight sheen, and softer blacks.
I like it as much as 131: 132 has a more delicate presence visually speaking.
Hard to imagine someone not liking it.

 

[Lachlan Young]

I read it is not dead matt. If its anything like their matt, Nature 532-11 I would be a buyer. The discontinued Nature 532-11, to my eye, had a semi matt, velvet like surface, with a tactile feel. No strong reflections but in angled light had a slight sheen.

132 is smoother than 532 - and noticeably warmer in base colour (but not 542 colour). You can write on 132 in pencil without issue - it's maybe just a bit shinier than Ilford 24K.

I wonder if the two surfaces, 133 v 532 are the same?

No, 133 is much glossier than 532.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

Thanks Juan and Lachian. Just the info I was looking for. Is this not a great spot to share info.

I am printing on 131 and wet the prints look great. However, Fomatone 131 does has dry down.

131 has a high gloss but its not as broad base reflecting back to the eye as Ilford pearl surface. Ilford WT RC pearl surface has a lower brightness reflection but the light bounces from a larger area of the print surface.

 

[Lachlan Young]

I am printing on 131 and wet the prints look great. However, Fomatone 131 does has dry down.

All Fomatone FB papers have a fair bit of dry-down in my experience - the main difference is that the current latest generation Ilford FB Classic & Cooltone papers have very little.

131 has a high gloss but its not as broad base reflecting back to the eye as Ilford pearl surface. Ilford WT RC pearl surface has a lower brightness reflection but the light bounces from a larger area of the print surface.

Fomatone's various FB surfaces aren't much different from the usual FB paper surfaces/ finishes around today - I can't say I've ever particularly liked RC pearl (44M/ 44K) finish though.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

Fomatone 532-11 is different but its gone.

I agree Ilford Classic has very little dry down and is exceptionally sharp. RC Deluxe is better than RC papers of the past and is a perfect speed match with Classic fiber.

Fomatone 131 may have a 1/8 of an f-stop dry down. I’m happy when the prints are in the wash tray. The next day I find myself reprinting with 5 to 10% less exposure. Its an old school paper.