Found: Kodak dye transfer paper

ilduce · Sep 3, 2009

I found this box of dye transfer paper in storage at work:

Still sealed in the box. Dye transfer is clearly waaayy beyond my expertise, so I'm wondering if it's of any value to anyone. Apologies if I'm posting this to the wrong forum.

kompressor · Sep 3, 2009

For me such things has an huge value Do you want my post adress?

eli griggs · Sep 3, 2009

I always thought one day I'd try Dye Transfer, the few D.T. prints I've seen in person were wonderful. It'll be interesting to see whom here works with these materials.

Eli

gordrob · Sep 3, 2009

I am interested in the paper - I will send you a PM for more details

Gord

L Gebhardt · Sep 3, 2009

You may feel free to expose it to light, as it isn't light sensitive. Looks like others have spoken first, but I am interested as well.

Photo Engineer · Sep 3, 2009

There is a dedicated web site for Dye Transfer and a group doing it. There is a yahoo forum for it moderated by Jim Browning, a member of APUG. Ctein is one of the top printers of DT along with Jim who would be interested. They are actively doing DT just about daily. You may want to contact them via the forum on yahoo.

PE

Kirk Keyes · Sep 3, 2009

Shouldn't you ask you boss if it's OK to send off company property?

Ektagraphic · Sep 3, 2009

If you don't mind sharing, where do you work that you found this. I would like a couple of sheets.

Ian Grant · Sep 3, 2009

Who-ever wrote on the front didn't read the back despite circling the relevant section, it clearly says:

Paper is not light sensitive.

I'm surprised no-one realised

Ian

John Jarosz · Sep 3, 2009

It looks like the box was opened. Have you looked to see what's inside? Maybe they put something else in the box.

John

Ian Grant · Sep 3, 2009

John Jarosz said:
It looks like the box was opened. Have you looked to see what's inside? Maybe they put something else in the box.

John

The OP & the photo's show the seals are intact

Ian

nickandre · Sep 3, 2009

I know that Ctein will use all the paper donations he can get. He stockpiled 15 years worth of this stuff when Kodak cut the sale of this product in the early 90s. This stuff has indefinite shelf life while the film itself, called pan masking film, needs to be frozen to last. This stuff is useless without experience, pan masking film, and the proper dyes, and registration equipment. There are instructions to replicate these materials though...

Photo Engineer · Sep 3, 2009

Yes, I would further that.

Give it to an experienced DT worker. Experimenting with it is just wasting a very valuable item to no purpose. You might use up all of the paper learning, but when done, there is no more paper! No one is coating it due to the toxic nature of the coating process and the lack of market.

PE

Tom Kershaw · Sep 3, 2009

Photo Engineer said:
Yes, I would further that.

Give it to an experienced DT worker. Experimenting with it is just wasting a very valuable item to no purpose. You might use up all of the paper learning, but when done, there is no more paper! No one is coating it due to the toxic nature of the coating process and the lack of market.

PE

PE,

What makes the manufacture of these fibre base papers for dye transfer printing more toxic than conventional silver gelatin paper manufacture?

Tom

Photo Engineer · Sep 3, 2009

The paper used depleted Thorium Nitrate as one ingredient. This material is quite harmless to humans except as a heavy metal, but the mild radiation makes for arduous cleanup in the coating room or a special dedicated coater.

PE

2F/2F · Sep 3, 2009

Yes...I must agree with what some people have stated above: Please donate it to someone who can make stunning prints with it (e.g. Ctein). It won't do you any good by itself. Nice find, now let's get it into the right hands.

ilduce · Sep 4, 2009

I'm certainly not going to do anything with it myself - I've no experience in any sort of paper processing, and would likely muck everything up. My boss (I work at a photo lab) wants to sell it, so perhaps I will put a classified ad up.

AgX · Sep 4, 2009

Photo Engineer said:
No one is coating it due to the toxic nature of the coating process and the lack of market.

Filmotec is making Dye Transfer paper.

Though I don't know how it compares to the late Kodak one.

Photo Engineer · Sep 4, 2009

AgX said:
Filmotec is making Dye Transfer paper.

Though I don't know how it compares to the late Kodak one.

The only thing I am aware of is through comments by Ctein and Jim Browning that there are currently no suitable substitutes. The last I discussed that with them was about a year ago, so if this has taken place since, the situation may be different. IDK at all.

Not many want to use Thorium Nitrate, and substitutes seem to have been rather poor in the past.

PE

AgX · Sep 4, 2009

It's on the Filmotec website for quite some time. I've never seen it or heard anyone comment on it.

Tom Kershaw · Sep 4, 2009

AgX said:
It's on the Filmotec website for quite some time. I've never seen it or heard anyone comment on it.

Does this imply there is actually a commercial market for dye transfer paper, or is it used for some other purpose?

Tom

AgX · Sep 4, 2009

I questioned myself when I saw that offer...

Anyway it is described as being a special fiber based product containing a mordant intended for dye transfer printing. No question about that.

Photo Engineer · Sep 4, 2009

Well, Ctein owns the world supply of Pan Matrix film and J&C photo sold a duplicate of Jim Browning's Matrix film that is posted on his web site. Jim owed a huge supply of Matrix film. I am not aware of them using Filmotec products, but I may have forgotten. I gave the last of my DT paper to Ctein several years back.

The dyes are not readily available.

PE

ilduce · Nov 17, 2009

Ok, sorry for the delay, but I've been going back and forth with my boss on what to do with this, and he has decided to put it up for auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140360737264

Found: Kodak dye transfer paper

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