Graded papers, are they obsolete?

Hi,

I am new to this darkroom malarky, but i have been engrossed constantly after aquiring a darkroom (with paper!). There are a couple of grades of paper in the pile (2 and 3), and i have a paper type that i absolutely love (Grade 3 stippled). However, i am looking to buy some new paper and all i can find is Multigrade ... Is there anything else to be bought these days?

I am based in North Island, NZ

Yep you can still get graded paper.
Vanbar.com should have it, but freestyle photo in the states will have it too.

It use to be that the selection of VC papers was very limited, and if one wanted warm-toned papers, papers with unique surfaces. etc., one had to use graded papers. The selection of VC papers is greater now, and graded papers pretty much fell to the wayside. But the over-all selection of new, currently manufactured papers (and the various surfaces) has decreased with the advent of digital, and companies such as Agfa and Kodak no longer making photo paper.

VC papers do have their advantages (split filter printing, for example), so they are worthwhile using. I do little silver gelatin(photopaper) printing these days, so others can fill you in with the latest and greatest.

Vaughn

I asked the same question a while back. I got some great responses.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)