ilfochrome direct positive paper

[rbrigham]

Just seen this

http://www.ars-imago.ch/imagopositivepaper10x125cm4x525sheets-p-13901.html

its on MR Cads twitter feed as well
apparently there are 9 master rolls being cut up at the moment
process in b/w dev not ilfochrome chemicals

has anybody seen used or even heard of this stuff

robin

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I am not sure if this is similar to the paper that Harman makes for the Ilford direct positive paper or not (which is, as I understand it, temporarily suspended from production). Be cool to make black and white prints from chromes.

 

[David Grenet]

It's on a polyester base but as far as I can make out that's the only similarity to Ilfochrome.

 

[AgX]

Ilford Imaging was the manufacturer of the IlfordPhoto direct-positive paper emulsion. First as custom emulsion production for a german client, later the emulsion was acquired by IlfordPhoto for their own direct-positive papers.

This coating on PET base, seemingly done by Ilford Imaging is new to me. Seemingly a custom coating for Ars-Imago.

 

[rbrigham]

Hi David

Mr cad said it was on Melinex and that it was made in the ilfochrome factory
it might be harmen direct positive as that was also made there
I was wondering if it was an old product for prints from b/w chromes thats just turned up in the back of the storeroom long forgotten about
anybody remember such a product ?

robin

 

[AgX]

No, not according to my archive. But maybe someone else knows better.

(I admit though that an old stock makes more sense than a custom production, especially with IlfordPhoto stating to be in need of that emulsion.)

 

[Ghostman]

I know them personally so if anyone would like specific information I can ask. It's on a Melinex base, commissioned and created by Imago (I am not entirely sure who they collaborated with on this), made in Switzerland, packaged in Germany and distributed through Imago. Standard BW chemicals are used to develop these papers.

 

[darkroom_rookie]

But WHEN was it made? Ilford Imaging closed down the Marly plant a month or two ago. Or did they?

 

[AgX]

Actually they stopped their halide business in september last year. The respective employees had been made redundant back then.

 

[Ghostman]

These positive papers were designed, commissioned and financed by Imago 1:1, made and coated by Ilford in Switzerland, cut and packaged by Maco.

 

[AgX]

Maco don't have own facilities.

 

[rbrigham]

I just bought some from mrcad

first off it's not cut for 5x4 film holders which is a bit of a pain

secondly I am a bit confused

direct positive means that light on the paper makes white when developed
no light on the paper means black when the paper is developed the opposite of standard paper

to test my safe light whilst cutting some down I put some coins on the paper
and sure enough they came out dark gray when developed as I would expect
the paper had a pink tone where it should be white which I think means it needs longer fixing

so I try another sheet in a holder and put a coin on and leave it in daylight for 60 seconds
after I develop this sheet the coin is white and the rest of the paper which got the 60sec daylight is dark gray

any body got any ideas what's going on
as I'm at a bit of a loss

I used ilford multigrade and rapid fixer as normal and just did a normal sheet in it to check
something has not gone wrong and that came out fine

robin

 

[Ghostman]

I saw some pictures today that had been made by a Swiss photographer called Daniel Mueli. He has built a camera on the back of a truck and made some pictures about 60cm x 80cm or 50cm X 70 cm using these positive papers.

Simply put, I was blown away. We spent ages just browsing the delicious and glorious details with a loupe.

 

[StoneNYC]

So is this JUST for him? Or for everyone to purchase??

 

[Ghostman]

So is this JUST for him? Or for everyone to purchase??

Anyone can buy it

He just buys BIG ROLLS of the stuff. I was curious to see what the final result was like, I just wasn't expecting them to be so inspiring. It was really very special. Time to get an 8X10, or a truck...

 

[rbrigham]

Ive been working with this for a few days now and am getting quite close to what I want

I pre flash foe 21 sec ( till the black just starts to go fray)

dev for 120 sec in multigrade IV
stop for 10 sec
Fix for 120 sec

wash for 5 min then leave it soaking for 30 min to get the pink out



4x5 lit with flash at f8

 

[Ghostman]

I saw a few pink tinged attempts from the sample set I saw and I remembered you mentioning it. Do you think 120 sec is a long enough fix? Do you think the pink is a fix or wash/rinse attribute?

 

[rbrigham]

the paper is pink directly out of the box
I will try a much longer fix say 5 and 10 min but I can't think that would do it

also do you have a link to that guys photos
all I got was a fly fishing photography site when I googled him
no mention of ULF photography

robin

 

[rbrigham]

looking at the harman processing recommendations for FB direct positive it says to fix for 1 min
and recommends not to extend that I case of image etching

I've used all my box so can't do any more tests but will hopefully pickup another box next week

robin

 

[AgX]

So is this JUST for him? Or for everyone to purchase??

For sale at Ars-Imago and Maco.