How many different packages of paper do you have?

miha · Jan 17, 2014

How many? Way too many!

Joey Anchors · Jan 17, 2014

Only one right now.. Ilford Ilfobrom Gallery grade 2 Gloss

Simon R Galley · Jan 17, 2014

Dear Joey,

The paper that is always, has always and always will be at the top of my pile.......

Simon ILFORD photo / HARMAN technology Limited

Thomas Bertilsson · Jan 17, 2014

Simon R Galley said:
Dear Joey,

The paper that is always, has always and always will be at the top of my pile.......

Simon ILFORD photo / HARMAN technology Limited

Love printing with graded papers, and have tried Galerie a few times. It is a really sensational paper. If I was wealthier, it would be the paper of choice for me.
When it was available, I had a real love affair with Kentmere Bromide. That was stunning paper that I would be exclusively using were it still available. But after all the standard MGIV paper I have is gone, I am excited to try the new Multigrade fiber papers.

Joey Anchors · Jan 18, 2014

Simon, it is an amazing paper. Please don't ever stop making it!

Simon R Galley · Jan 20, 2014

Dear Joey,

Business is business, but our whole marketing philosophy is about keeping the whole family of ILFORD Photo products as they are today.

GALERIE is a truly amazing and special paper, but it is expensive...and the MULTIGRADE RC and FB family makes sense to 99% of users...

But for me, nothing can beat a correctly exposed neg on GALERIE...nothing.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

miha · Jan 20, 2014

Dear Simon, since you use Galerie a lot, how do the two grades (2&3) compare to the multigrade line of FB paper. Galerie grade 2 seems a bit more contrasty than the multigrade with no filter, correct?

K-G · Jan 20, 2014

Simon R Galley said:
Dear Joey,

Business is business, but our whole marketing philosophy is about keeping the whole family of ILFORD Photo products as they are today.

GALERIE is a truly amazing and special paper, but it is expensive...and the MULTIGRADE RC and FB family makes sense to 99% of users...

But for me, nothing can beat a correctly exposed neg on GALERIE...nothing.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Dear Simon !
If you ever plan to set up an Ilford-Galerie-fan-club , please put me on the list. If you don't need to do split grade Printing, there is nothing that can beat Galerie. Besides , it isn't to expensive. It all depends on were you buy it. At Silverprint in London it is slightly more expensive than MG Classic but still less expensive than MGWT . At other places outside the UK the prices can be astronomical. This morning I received a fresh pack of Galerie grade 3 from Silverprint and the grade 2 will come soon when they get it in stock . Santa Claus is early this year . Keep coating !!!!!

Karl-Gustaf

miha · Jan 21, 2014

Hi Karl-Gustaf, maybe you can answer my question regarding Galerie grades? I'm using a condensor setup and usually print at grade 2 - 2.5. Thanks

miha · Jan 21, 2014

Well I'm really angling for an answer that tells me what grade to choose. It will be used for contact printing, negatives will be targeted towards MG grade 2.5. I used to print on Emaks Gr. 2. Thanks.

Anon Ymous · Jan 21, 2014

miha said:
Well I'm really angling for an answer that tells me what grade to choose. It will be used for contact printing, negatives will be targeted towards MG grade 2.5. I used to print on Emaks Gr. 2. Thanks.

Theoretically, you can compare the contrast of two different papers by checking their ISO (R) ranges. The smaller the number, the higher the contrast of the paper. Ilford publishes these numbers for both MG IV FB (page 1) and Galerie FB (page 2). So, if you have a look, you'll see that the MG paper has ISO (R) ranges of 100 and 80 with #2 and 3 filters respetively. Galerie grades 2 and 3 on the other hand have ISO (R) ranges 110 and 90, so they're softer than the equivalent MG grade. Galerie grade 3 seems to be about equal to MG IV FB with a #2.5 filter.

K-G · Jan 21, 2014

miha said:
Hi Karl-Gustaf, maybe you can answer my question regarding Galerie grades? I'm using a condensor setup and usually print at grade 2 - 2.5. Thanks

Hi Miha. Normally I don't use VC-papers ( Ilford MGIV , Ilford MGWT , Adox MCC110 or Berger VCCB ) without filter. With filter I don't need to change exposure time between filter grades 0 - 4 .
From my experience Galerie grade 2 would be comparable to MGIV with filter 1 1/2 and Galerie grade 3 to MGIV with filter 3 - 3 1/2 . This is just a feeling and I haven't made any comparative tests. It also depends on what filters you use. VC-head , colour-head or separate polymer filters. My judgement is based on the Ilford 500 multigrade head. Others will most likely have different opinions , otherwise this is not APUG . Good luck with your own tests.

Karl-Gustaf

miha · Jan 21, 2014

Thank you Anon and Karl-Gustaf (is there a thank you button? ). As I understand a contact print may often have more contrast so I'll opt for grade 2 then (and a bottle of Dokumol).

Simon R Galley · Jan 21, 2014

Dear MIHA,

I would go for grade 2 as well....

When you say you are contact printing negs ! I presume they are 'big negs' otherwise GALERIE may be a bit of overkill, even I don't contact down onto GALERIE ( waste not, want not, as they say ! ) but I always contact and store every film on FB paper ( good discipline I find ).

Enjoy ILFORD ILFOBROM GALERIE ' The Prince of Paper's '

I just thought of that.....could you tell.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology limited :

DREW WILEY · Jan 21, 2014

To my impression, EMaks grades are slightly on the soft side compared to Ilford, if that helps.

miha · Jan 21, 2014

Thank you Simon!

Yes 4x5 negs, on The Prince of Paper's as you say.

miha · Jan 21, 2014

Hi Drew, that helps a lot, thank you.

K-G · Jan 21, 2014

Simon R Galley said:
Enjoy ILFORD ILFOBROM GALERIE ' The Prince of Paper's '

Who is the King or Queen ???????

Karl-Gustaf

Thomas Bertilsson · Jan 21, 2014

K-G said:
Who is the King or Queen ???????

Karl-Gustaf

I thought of that also!

And don't forget the Princess of Papers!

To me, 'the best' paper is the one I'm used to. If I change paper, my negatives aren't usually perfect for it, which means extra effort when printing.
For me, the old Ilford Multigrade IV fiber is the Emperor to rule them all.

K-G · Jan 21, 2014

Thomas Bertilsson said:
I thought of that also!

And don't forget the Princess of Papers!

To me, 'the best' paper is the one I'm used to. If I change paper, my negatives aren't usually perfect for it, which means extra effort when printing.
For me, the old Ilford Multigrade IV fiber is the Emperor to rule them all.

So let's hope that the Royal Family will stay large and healthy for many years to come.

Karl-Gustaf

L Gebhardt · Jan 21, 2014

I've got more boxes in the freezer than I care to count. Lot's of Ilford MGIV and WT. On the work table is some 8.5x11 Adorama RC and FB I use for contact sheets and proof prints (cheap, but not bad). But my favorite paper I have is my Forte PolyWarmTone. I have a few 50 sheet boxes of 11x14 and 16x20 left. Man do I wish they still made that stuff. Mine is still printing perfectly 10 years (or more) after it was made. I'm always amazed when I go from a proof print on other papers and make the final on PGWT at how much more of a presence that old paper has.

PKM-25 · Jan 22, 2014

I tend to keep it simple and medium sized stocks to keep it fresh. I use MGWT in 8x10, 11x14 and 16x20. I am using the new FB classic in 20x24.

That's it for me, no experiments, no flavor of the week, just great quality papers across the board.

How many different packages of paper do you have?

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