Forte Polygrade and Lith

Gary Holliday

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Apr 12, 2006
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I'm considering buying a supply of Forte Polygrade as it's at a very decent price at present.

What are people's experiences with this paper and lith?

Also, in normal developer does this tone well in the old Kodak and Ilford selenium?
 

tim rudman

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May 9, 2006
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I'm considering buying a supply of Forte Polygrade as it's at a very decent price at present.

What are people's experiences with this paper and lith?

Also, in normal developer does this tone well in the old Kodak and Ilford selenium?

It liths to a cold black and cool putty colour Gary. I like it. It tones OK (cool)
Haven't toned it much apart from Lith
Tim
 

Mark Fisher

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Dec 13, 2003
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Here is a sample of one image done with Polygrade. I think it is a nice alternative when you want something a bit more subtle (color-wise). My question is what will serve as a good replacement now that polygrade is no longer produced.
 

Rich Ullsmith

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Jan 26, 2007
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If the stock is large, perhaps the seller would let you take a small sheet to test for fog. I have found about half of the Forte Polygrade I pick second hand is fogged. Not so with the graded Fortezo papers.
 

Sparky

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I've had no fogging issues and have been using ALOT of polygrade for the last few months. But maybe I got lucky with my batches..(?). At any rate - I can't tell you about lith/toning response- but I can tell you all about toning with it. It's very sensitive to toning - and will yield very strong color changes with most toners. Selenium toning tends toward the red, if anything - and you have to be careful to pull early - not to take it too far. Most sepia type toners will give you a very vigorous response - again- exercise prudence not to get too 'cartoony' an effect. I've been playing with it with various sepia, titanium, and bleach/split toning processes (selenium and thiourea dioxide).
 
OP
OP

Gary Holliday

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Apr 12, 2006
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Belfast, UK
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Here is a sample of one image done with Polygrade. I think it is a nice alternative when you want something a bit more subtle (color-wise). My question is what will serve as a good replacement now that polygrade is no longer produced.

Where is your link for the image?

I will buy a few boxes of the polygrade for a forthcoming project. After that I will look for anything that takes my fancy. I don't really like the very warm blacks associated with WT papers, although Kentmere WT is the exception.
 
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