Forte glossy vs Ilford glossy

[ericdan]

I managed to get a few packs of polywarmtone, fortezo and polygrade paper all in glossy. The surface seems to have a finer structure than other papers and also seems to be less glossy in the sense that it doesn't distract from the picture.
I have seen Bromoforte prints before which have the same finish.
I have not seen this type of finish with any other paper I've tried. Adox glossy is very glossy and the surface seems to be less refined. Ilford is similar to Adox as well. Foma paper seems to be closer to Forte finish.
Is there any other glossy paper on the market today that has similar qualities?
How do Ilford graded gallery papers compare?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Sal Santamaura]

I've been complaining about excess shine in glossy FB papers for a while now. While there appears to be some slight variation depending on whatever final overcoat manufacturers apply, the root cause is all of them (including Ilford) using the same exact base from Schoeller:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/has-adox-mcc-110-changed.107990/page-2#post-1426034​

It's a sad situation when the only way to satisfactorily view a print is in a darkened room with directional light aimed at it from an angle that doesn't reflect into the viewer's eyes. Anything like normal room lighting results in veiling surface glare. This has driven me to mostly print digitally on Hahnemuhle Fineart Baryta Satin using a Canon PRO-100. That combination results in an elegant image with just enough gloss to support solid blacks while avoiding almost all reflections. Would that there were still gelatin silver papers of similar character.

 

[@DrHSTGonzo]

That is sadly true about most the modern glossy paper's. It's one reason I prefer a semi mat finish. I do still like Foma's glossy finish, but my favorite for many prints is their velvet finish. It has a slight sheen but not too much, due to its texture. Reminiscent of Agfa 118 paper.

 

[DREW WILEY]

The latest Ilford papers like MGWT, Cooltone, and Classic are even more glossy than MGIV. I happen to like that higher gloss. But the bit of remaining Ilfobrom Galerie graded paper has a gloss level analogous to Polygrade V. Being a bromide emulsion, it trends cool. EMaks was the last neutral tone graded paper I used; and it was rather glossy, having a yellowish gelatin overcoat quite different from Harman/Ilford products, allegedly pig gelatin. I don't know if there's much Kentmere Fineprint left for sale somewhere, but it was a neutral tone high quality VC paper with about the same gloss level as MGIV, but richer in potential tone and DMax. I'm looking at a Forte Polygrade print on the wall right now. It was a lovely product; but as the saying goes, there's is nothing permanent except change itself, so I continue to adapt to new opportunities.