Fuji Gaslight Contact Printing paper

[Michael W]

Just saw Dead Link Removed listed on the megaperls site. It wasn't there last week.
8x10 is available in grade 2 or 3, costs about $100 aussie for a box of 100 sheets.
Also available in 4x5 and half-plate, apparently grade 3 only.

Is the legendary Fuji Azo type paper that has been referred to in various other threads? I'd love to hear a review from anyone who has used it. Unfortunately there is no in depth product information available at megaperls - e.g. paper chemistry.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Dirk (who runs Megaperls) just posted a query on the LF forum asking what it is. It does sound very interesting.

 

[photo8x10]

Very interesting....
I've sent un e-mail too, When I'll have more information, I'll post it...

Best
Stefano Germi

 

[tony lockerbie]

Funny, I didn't even know that Fuji made B&W paper... anyone ever used it?

Tony

 

[Jerevan]

Is there any information whether this is RC or fiber paper?

 

[Michael W]

Funny, I didn't even know that Fuji made B&W paper... anyone ever used it?

Tony

I tried the single weight Rembrandt paper a couple of years ago. Compared with Kodak Polymax printing the same neg I didn't like it much. I wouldn't damn it on that one test however. I still have the box somewhere & have been thinking about doing some more print comparisons soon. I presume the gaslight is a completely different paper & I'm interested to hear first hand reports from users who have experience with other contact papers.

 

[maxbloom]

Who knows. Given the other disappointments in the contact-paper-still-in-production category, I'd be cautiously optimistic (fomalux anyone?).

 

[Jerevan]

I looked at the older threads on APUG, and Ryuji mentioned in one thread about Foma papers that Fuji makes a contact paper with the designation WP which means Water Proof, ie RC paper according to the thread: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

But let's just hope...

 

[Dirk-san]

Yes, I doubt it is fiber, let's see...

Fuji does quite a bit of paper. There used to be even more, but you all know the state of things at the moment.

http://fujifilm.jp/personal/film/monochrome/paper.html

I think Rembrant V is the only fibre paper they make and it is multigrade. For graded fibre paper made in Japan I believe Oriental is the only choice.

 

[Michael Kadillak]

This subject comes up about every six months as people are scouring the existing product lines for options. Unfortunately, this is a resin based proofing paper for small format photographers - not a product that one can expect to make fine prints from.

If someone has a professional contacts at Fuji, lets talk.

Cheers!

 

[Dirk-san]

Unfortunately, this is a resin based proofing paper for small format photographers.

It comes in sizes up to 45.7×56.0cm.

If someone has a professional contacts at Fuji, lets talk.

What is it that you want to talk about?

 

[nze]

Dirk, is it RC or fiber based paper???

 

[Dirk-san]

Hi -- I finally had the time to take this paper for a spin. Disclaimer: I have not wet printed for a long time and especially never with the Fuji materials (paper developer today was Fuji Super-Korectol-L).

First things first: it is an RC paper, medium weight and it is glossy. That probably violates several commandments of the fine art photography world. This is probably a disappointment for some people, but not for me. Here's why:

Like meeting a rude person, what first strikes you is the lack of sensitivity of this paper. My other stock (Fuji Bromide, RC, graded) had exposures between 1-2s with my setup, which is why I have a darkroom timer hooked up to the bulb. With this paper I exposed for 100-150 seconds! Yes, that is very long but I found it gives me amazing precision for exposure (no fractions of seconds to worry about) and even a kitchen timer will do. The lack of sensitivity should also be beneficial for people with makeshift darkrooms that are not totally light tight (within reason).

So for me this paper will become my new standard stock at least for work prints and proofing. It helped me already making better prints because of the longer exposures. You can dodge as much as you want in that time period and really look at the negative in the contact printer while thinking what to do with it.

The prints themselves show a very pleasant tonality as far as I am concerned. Contrast just right for me at grade 3 (a matter of taste and how your negatives look like; I have seen last stocks of grade 2 version, but going forward it will only be made in 3). The image is crisp and blacks are rich and deep where you want them. Overall the grey is nice and neutral. This is a very user-friendly paper for contact printing and I am very pleased with it. Unfortunately I was told earlier this week that Fuji paper prices will go up by 10-20% in summer so I will stock up a bit.

Attached some straight scans, although they are probably meaningless. I have tried to make them look on screen like what's on paper, but alas, we all know the difficulties of this. They show on screen still too contrasty and a bit muddier than in reality.

Hope this gives you a good impression of this paper.

 

[fschifano]

Looks good, and I really like the fact that it is so slow. Too bad Fuji doesn't distribute a lot of their products in the US. They make good stuff.

 

[photo8x10]

It looks good, and as Frank Schifano I like the fact it's slow, I think, when I come back home the next week, to make a decision to buy it to try(but I sure I'll buy it), for me it's a very pity that it's a RC paper and not fiber bases, if it had been a fiber paper I would have put my order immediatelly.
Have anyone the possibility to ask to Fuji a Fiber paper for this kind of paper?
Best
Stefano Germi
Italy