Forte closure

[fschifano]

The key is colleges and camera clubs maintaining their facilities. A digression I know from the main thread but being in a darkroom is powerful magic.

Yes, indeed it is. I have never enrolled in any sort of formal darkroom or photography class. Rather I had a great uncle who was very enthusiastic about photography. He showed me the ropes in his darkroom which wasn't much more than a converted closet. I got the bug and it bit hard. Forty some odd years later, I'm still at it.

 

[aldevo]

I agree. It's imperative that the message "Film Still Matters!" gets broadcast to these groups.

Without it, "new blood" will not get involved, demand for the products will decline further, and we are all in a lot of trouble.

 

[Black Dog]

Were Forte making Classic Pan BTW?

 

[uraniumnitrate]

Were Forte making Classic Pan BTW?

At their manufacturing plant in the city of Vac which is just a couple miles north of Budapest in Hungary, but the factory is closed right now and there is no production. It might be possible that some buy the plant but no news available any longer as probobly all effort to save Forte is failed. You need two parts to do business and that situation didn't show up yet. Let's just hope.

 

[Bryce Parker]

A couple of points-
I started my own darkroom in 2002 when I recieved some nearly free equipment. I just read the instructions and went to town. Only later did I take classes and still did not use a community darkroom except when forced to for the class.
During that experience, I formed a personal view as to my paper selection after seeing and using numerous brands and types. I chose Forte's semi- matt, neutral tone fiber material as my standard and have used it since. I chose that particular paper for its true black and white tone (I use Dektol and KRST to get it) and am not looking forward to finding an alternate that suits my vision or having to sort through hours of trial and error to "learn" to use it effectively.
Since this material will probably be unavailable soon, does anyone have suggestions for a similar paper I might try? The only paper on the market that sounds close is Kentmere's neutral semi matte. I have not seen this material in person yet, let alone used it to make images.
Am I simply out of luck? Are there other papers I might consider?

 

[don sigl]

A couple of points-
I started my own darkroom in 2002 when I recieved some nearly free equipment. I just read the instructions and went to town. Only later did I take classes and still did not use a community darkroom except when forced to for the class.
During that experience, I formed a personal view as to my paper selection after seeing and using numerous brands and types. I chose Forte's semi- matt, neutral tone fiber material as my standard and have used it since. I chose that particular paper for its true black and white tone (I use Dektol and KRST to get it) and am not looking forward to finding an alternate that suits my vision or having to sort through hours of trial and error to "learn" to use it effectively.
Since this material will probably be unavailable soon, does anyone have suggestions for a similar paper I might try? The only paper on the market that sounds close is Kentmere's neutral semi matte. I have not seen this material in person yet, let alone used it to make images.
Am I simply out of luck? Are there other papers I might consider?

Kentmere will not tone anything like Forte. I hear a lot of talk about this paper and that paper.... but you aren't going to find an exact match.... The toning qualities of the Forte papers were one of their strongest assets. In particular their color and depth when matched with Nelsons gold toner. The kentmere papers I've tried are probably the least receptive to Nelsons.
Another strength was their price. Many people are suggesting Bergger papers. Bergger makes a fine product... so does Ilford for that matter. But neither look like Forte, and both are considerably pricier. (Warm tone fiber papers)
I'm hoping Photo Engineer will come up with a Forte-like formula one of these days.

 

[Black Dog]

You could try ADOX and Foma?

 

[aldevo]

Kentmere will not tone anything like Forte. I hear a lot of talk about this paper and that paper.... but you aren't going to find an exact match.... The toning qualities of the Forte papers were one of their strongest assets. In particular their color and depth when matched with Nelsons gold toner. The kentmere papers I've tried are probably the least receptive to Nelsons.
Another strength was their price. Many people are suggesting Bergger papers. Bergger makes a fine product... so does Ilford for that matter. But neither look like Forte, and both are considerably pricier. (Warm tone fiber papers)
I'm hoping Photo Engineer will come up with a Forte-like formula one of these days.

I agree with you regarding the toning properties of Forte papers. It's likely that the present Adox, Foma, and (maybe) Slavich formulations are your best bet in terms of finding a paper that is responsive to toning. I haven't tried any of these three yet.

Incidentally, most (perhaps all...though Ole will disagree) Bergger papers were manufactured by Forte.

 

[Ole]

Incidentally, most (perhaps all...though Ole will disagree) Bergger papers were manufactured by Forte.

I don't disagree at all with that, only with statements that ALL Bergger papers are rebranded Forte, when at least some of them are quite clearly not. I don't dispute that Bergger papers, possible all of them, were made by Forte.

 

[Black Dog]

I just got a pic in the postcard exchange printed on Adox Fineprint Warmtone- it's a real deadringer for love........I mean Forte LOL. And I have a box too-wo!

 

[aldevo]

I don't disagree at all with that, only with statements that ALL Bergger papers are rebranded Forte, when at least some of them are quite clearly not. I don't dispute that Bergger papers, possible all of them, were made by Forte.

An interesting mystery. Don't forget that Forte's catalog used to be far more extensive than it was the past couple years. It's possible that Bergger asked that certain products be produced exclusively under their label.

I'm emailing a friend with an old Forte catalog from the mid 90s to ask her to scan it and send it to me. If she does, I'll cross-ref the existing Bergger papers against what Forte used to offer circa 1994.

I believe that Forte started producing film & paper for Bergger in late-1995.

 

[uraniumnitrate]

An interesting mystery. Don't forget that Forte's catalog used to be far more extensive than it was the past couple years. It's possible that Bergger asked that certain products be produced exclusively under their label.

I'm emailing a friend with an old Forte catalog from the mid 90s to ask her to scan it and send it to me. If she does, I'll cross-ref the existing Bergger papers against what Forte used to offer circa 1994.

I believe that Forte started producing film & paper for Bergger in late-1995.

Yes you are completely right about those facts. Its paper that forte doesn’t produce any longer for the market and those had been produced again for Bergger. I have seen the catalogue which actually shows a huge amount of different papers many of it actually never even hit the market. The different papers Forte had been produced is far more behind of anyone’s imagination and makes other producers looks like an amateurs in manufacturing papers It’s like if they begin to produce all of it than they can supply ten more Companies like Bergger and they did. So more surprises is about to come for you!