I just got a 120 roll of forma retro 320 back from richard photo lab, and its the first film i have seen with an opaque base. it looks frosted like a ground glass screen instert. Is this normal for this film?
I'll go out on a limb and say "no" -- a frosted-looking film base is not normal for any film I know of.
That said, it shouldn't make any difference in projection or enlargement (both normally done with the base side toward the light source, emulsion toward the screen or easel).
You should post a photo of it. Maybe it's not sufficiently fixed? Residual silver in shadow areas can look kinda "frosted" when the film is not fixed properly.
RetroPan is the grainiest film ever made, though - so it's possible that is just how the midtones look.
As for the base, I'm pretty sure it's just gray - it is in 35mm and 4x5.
You should post a photo of it. Maybe it's not sufficiently fixed? Residual silver in shadow areas can look kinda "frosted" when the film is not fixed properly.
RetroPan is the grainiest film ever made, though - so it's possible that is just how the midtones look.
As for the base, I'm pretty sure it's just gray - it is in 35mm and 4x5.
Fomapan 100 in 120 format has a dull gray base which looks quite different from Kodak and Ilford films. I suspect what you are seeing is normal for Foma films.
Addendum: In my experience Foma 120 negatives come out looking dull, and has an appearance I generally associate with expired film and age-related fogging. I have gotten used to this and it doesn't seem to affect image quality.