Ilford Art 300

Use the right blade and have a second set of hands in the darkroom and pump up the darkroom lights... Takes us about 3 minutes once the table saw is wheeled into the darkroom...
Be careful I expect to see 10 fingers when I meet you.

Bob

Robert Hall said:

Didn't think of that, Bob, great idea. I can manage cutting that with no problem.

Thanks!

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Ok I really mean 8 fingers two thumbs.

I've never had a parent married to a relation.

So the problem I have found is I don't seem to see it available here. Who do you order from Bob?

TABLE SAW?

I get mine from Amplis here in Canada, My status as a lab allows me to order from the distributer. I think you could place this order with freestyle or Rob Skoetch here on APUG or Wynit if they are still the distributer for Harmon... Simon can spell out the locations better than I.

Robert Hall said:

I've never had a parent married to a relation.

So the problem I have found is I don't seem to see it available here. Who do you order from Bob?

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Yes we wheel the sucker in to the darkroom , pump up the safe lights and cut down large rolls for specific purposes. Not really a big deal as the paper cuts very nicely.

Why in the world wouldn't you use a rotary trimmer?

Robert Hall said:

Why in the world wouldn't you use a rotary trimmer?

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For a roll sixty foot long a rotary trimmer is not so very convenient!! A fast, sharp, fine-toothed saw will make a nice job of cutting the roll of compact paper (cotton-based in this case) in to two 24" wide rolls, sixty foot long. It's like cutting an artificial log, in effect.

Simon R Galley said:

Hi Charles,

Our distributor in the Netherlands ( Benelux ) has ordered strongly since it was launched a year ago, if you ask your local reseller to order it in from them they have it in stock.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

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Hello Simon,

Thanks for the information, I'll certainly pay my reseller a visit. I'm dying to give it a try although have rediscovered the pleasure of the MULTIGRADE IV FB Fiber paper, it's a fabulous product.

Regards
Charles

I finally had the chance to try the Ilford 300 Art paper, and it is really wonderful. I tried it with both ilford warmtone developer as well as the standard house developer in the rental darkroom that I use, and I can't say I saw an incredible difference. One thing I did notice, is that it seems to have more contrast at any given grade of filtration. That is, while I usually tend to print using grade 3 setting on the Ilford variable contrast head, I found that I was printing using the grade 1 settings or the highlights would be blank. I guess I could have pre-flashed, but I did get dense blacks even at that setting(surprisingly). One other caveat is that the paper does get very fragile if you leave it in the wash too long. My usual M.O. is to leave prints in the water tray until my session is over, then process them through PermaWash and two 10-15 minute baths in running water for standard Ilford FB. With the Art, it is important to keep moving along the line as per Ilford directions lest the paper start breaking down. Also, it dries wonderfully flat on a screen in a relatively short time. This is a fantastic paper for specific images as it gives an almost "sketch like" quality to the print. Thanks -and congratulations- to Ilford for developing it. Regards, Michael

Dear Michael,

Very pleased you liked it, interesting what you say about grade spacing, the emulsion is a new one obviously but should not vary from a standard VCFB emulsion grade spacing hardly at all, I think as it has a very good d.max ( maximum black ) you may just be optically moving down a little to get the tonal range, does'nt matter as long as it works for your images.

ART 300 is a very capable wet strength paper ( not easy ) but as always with silver printing : do not underwash or overwash...

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

Simon R Galley said:

Hi Charles,

Our distributor in the Netherlands ( Benelux ) has ordered strongly since it was launched a year ago, if you ask your local reseller to order it in from them they have it in stock.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Click to expand...

Hello Simon,

Having just surfaced from the darkroom, clutching prints, I just wanted to compliment you on a fine product. The paper is a pleasure to hold and use. Just a few tweaks to my process and not forgetting the difference in paper speed and savour the pleasure of a finely crafted result.

Congratulations Ilford and Hahnemühle

Dear Bateleur,

Thanks for the feedback, its appreciated and very pleased you liked it.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :