fomatone 542 - II green cast

[djkloss]

It sickens me that there is no longer any chamois 542. I've tried the new 542-II and it is extremely green. like Army green! I like the color of the paper base but the green cast is nasty. I found that lightly bleaching and lightly toning helps. Is there any other paper with the same creamy chamois base or nearly so (in a matt surface)? Or do all warm tone papers have a green cast? the original did not. would aging help? maybe just store it in the freezer for a few years?

I'm using Ethol LPD 1:4 for developer.

thanks,
Dorothy

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Try switching paper developer to either Ilford Warmtone or, if you want a more neutral tonality, Ansco 130 (available from Photographers' Formulary).

 

[Anon Ymous]

Has anyone tried this paper in Neutol WA, especially in higher dilutions? Any comments?

 

[Bigpaul]

Although I've never tried the Fomatone chamois finish, the creamiest paper that I've tried is Maco Multibrom WA (Maco actually refer to it as a chamois paper). It's a baryt/fibre paper that is creamy almost to the point of being yellowish. I've used the matt version and have been very pleased for the (admittedly few) images that I feel are suited by this sort of paper. Not sure, but I think that Maco products may be badged as something else outside Europe? In Europe, they are distributed by Mahn & Co from Germany. Well worth a try if you can find it!

 

[djkloss]

thanks for the suggestions. After an extensive session of bleaching and toning at different dilutions/times/temps with 8 stouffer step wedges, I think I may be able to get the results I'm after. The green cast seems more apparent when wet. Tomorrow I'll complete the project by selenium toning the other end of the spectrum.

Fun stuff that split toning!

 

[Dan Henderson]

Have you tried toning in selenium? I have been successful in removing the green cast this way. And got the benefits of enhanced contrast and archival permanence as well. Just be sure not to over tone, some papers will start to go red, which usually does not work for me.

 

[Ian Grant]

Man papers have/had a green cast in warm tone developersas Dan says Selenium is used to shift this towrars red/brown and it works extremely well.

Ian

 

[djkloss]

Yes, I have tried selenium, although it's been a while since I've done any highly dilute selenium (1:19 etc) without the sepia. I'll have to give that a go as well and see the difference.

Thanks, Dorothy