Forte Fortezo vs Oriental Seagul

[jansenh]

Does anyone have experience to share about comparing these two papers, with emphasis on the papers physical properties, such as the robustness of the surface and how well/bad it dry ... I do not have a drymount press - I dry on fiberglass mesh and then press between sheets of archival matt board.

I have used the Fortezo enough to really appreciate the ease and convnience using this paper. But now I want a paper that is more neutral in tone, hence my question about how it compares to Oriental.

Or suggestions for other graded papers besides these two?

 

[Tom Stanworth]

Hi,

I use both and they are among my favourite papers. Seagul FB VC is fairly neutral, but can be made to fall on the warmer or colder side with different developers. Oriental graded is colder. Both are superb beyond question. They are on thinner bases than Fortezo, but have a glossier finish which really glows. Seagul gains Dmax fast in selenium, but fortezo goes mad and changes to a red/plum in a blink unless you use very dilute selenium and pull it ealry for wonderful split toning possibilities. They are my warm and neutral/cool papers in both graded and VC forms (polywarmtone being the VC equivalent of fortezo. I have yet to find a paper as robust and flat drying as the 300g based polywarmtone/fortezo. Seagul dries fine tho.

Tom

 

[jansenh]

... now obtained cooler tones with Fortezo ...

I have yet to find a paper as robust and flat drying as the 300g based polywarmtone/fortezo.

That is my conclusion as well. The reason for asking was that I sometimes want a cooler image than the Fortezo generally give. And I figured Oriental Graded papers to the best alternative. Graded papers are my option of preference, since I am currently priting with a cold-light head.

But then I tried Tetenal Dokumol, a high-contrast developer that yields a very cool tone. And the Fortezo with Dokumol, toned very light in Selenium give a very delicate plum, purplish tone. Not exactly a very cold tone, but still ... not very far from what I am trying to achieve. I have heard that toning in gold after a hard-working high contrast developer will bring out the cooler blue from Fortezo. Gold toner is on the way trough mail order ...

But I think I will stick with Fortezo. That particular paper is a delight to handle.

Now, how do we reach the executives behind Forte and persuade them to keep goin' ... ;-)

 

[c6h6o3]

Now, how do we reach the executives behind Forte and persuade them to keep goin' ... ;-)

You BUY THE PRODUCT in great numbers. That is the only thing that will reach them.