Ilford MG Classic FB Paper Badly Curved

logan2z · Dec 30, 2020

The last couple of boxes of Ilford MG Classic fiber paper I've purchased in 8x10" have been so badly curved out of the box that it's difficult to keep it flat in the easel - the bottom edge of the paper literally pushes up the lower easel blade. I've started to place a weight on the blade to keep the paper as flat as possible during exposure.

I've had other boxes of this paper that had some curvature, but the last couple seem to be significantly worse. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm wondering if the paper leaves the factory like this or if there's something about the way the paper is stored after manufacturing that might cause this. FWIW I store it in a cool dry area of my house and the paper was purchased from B&H.

radiant · Dec 30, 2020

I had similar high curvature on Ilford MG RC V paper. I was in contact with Harman about this, they couldn't reproduce the problem and couldn't find defects. We ended up conclusion that it was caused by low humidity (Finnish winter) + 26 deg C temperature combination. The papers eventually flattened straight when I took those to lower temperature.

logan2z · Dec 30, 2020

vedostuu said:
I had similar high curvature on Ilford MG RC V paper. I was in contact with Harman about this, they couldn't reproduce the problem and couldn't find defects. We ended up conclusion that it was caused by low humidity (Finnish winter) + 26 deg C temperature combination. The papers eventually flattened straight when I took those to lower temperature.

Thanks for the reply. I'll probably contact Harman and see what they say. I've got another box that should be delivered today, hopefully it won't have the same problem.

jimjm · Dec 30, 2020

I've noticed this with Ilford FB paper lately, but I'm also in California and I think the low relative humidity has an affect on this.
The curling at the edges has made it difficult to fit the top edge of the paper in the slot on the easel. I'm also using Arista FB paper which doesn't curl nearly as much, but I prefer the look of the Ilford.

Pieter12 · Dec 30, 2020

I am in CA and noticed the last 3 rolls of Ilford FP5+ had a lot more curl to them both right off the reel and when hung to dry.

DREW WILEY · Dec 30, 2020

It's humidity related. No mystery. Some kinds of paper are affected more than others. I took advantage of our dry CA autumn to complete a large drymounting project, which needs low humidity. Large rainstorm due this weekend.

logan2z · Dec 30, 2020

DREW WILEY said:
It's humidity related. No mystery. Some kinds of paper are affected more than others. I took advantage of our dry CA autumn to complete a large drymounting project, which needs low humidity. Large rainstorm due this weekend.

Hmm, our humidity level here in the SF Bay Area is pretty low much of the year. But who knows how it was stored prior to me receiving it.

cowanw · Dec 30, 2020

For what it is worth, I keep my paper emulsion side down in a storage tray box with a 8x10 x1/4 inch pane of glass on top to weight the middle down some.

Sirius Glass · Dec 30, 2020

I too in Southern California with low humidity have paper curved, but I have little trouble flattening it enough in the easels.

logan2z · Dec 30, 2020

Sirius Glass said:
I too in Southern California with low humidity have paper curved, but I have little trouble flattening it enough in the easels.

This is the first box I've had that has been so curved that that easel couldn't fully flatten it without a bit of weight on the lower blade.

Maybe putting something a bit heavy over the paper while it's stored will help.

mshchem · Dec 30, 2020

I've been dipping into my reserves of Forte Polywarmtone and I've noticed how nicely it drys flat. I haven't had any real problems with the Ilford products. I have the big heavy Saunders V Track easels, they are heavy and hold down the paper. I left some in a papersafe and it was badly curled, not really a surprise.

The only way to get fiber prints to really lay flat is the old print flattening solution, and a big drum dryer dialed in. The glycol in the PFS, helps balance moisture in the base and the emulsion.

cowanw · Dec 30, 2020

These magnetic studs are quite useful also for holding down easel blades and test strips.
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...on/magnetic/69809-magnetic-studs?item=50K0401

Sirius Glass · Dec 30, 2020

Sirius Glass said:
I too in Southern California with low humidity have paper curved, but I have little trouble flattening it enough in the easels.

I use Saunders easels.

logan2z · Dec 30, 2020

Sirius Glass said:
I use Saunders easels.

Me too.

DREW WILEY · Dec 31, 2020

If your easel blades are heavy enough to fully hold down the paper edges, just use a little strip of removable blue masking tape between the blade and your baseboard.

MattKing · Dec 31, 2020

Adding a strong magnet to the top of the blades after the paper is inserted can help.

logan2z · Dec 31, 2020

Thanks for the suggestions guys, magnets or blue tape will work. I used a similarly low-tech solution - a wrench wrapped in black gaffer's tape as a weight I was just surprised at the amount of curl in the paper, I've never had a box that was curled so badly.

Besides keeping the paper flat on the easel, it also made it a bit more awkward to slip the paper into the developer slot in my Nova slot processor.

Patrick Robert James · Dec 31, 2020

I'll also say use a magnet. For easel use I have some from Home Depot. I think they are ceramic but they work great. My 16x20 easel is a 4 bladed Beseler and the blades are only attached on one side. I even flocked the edges of the magnets so there are no reflections.

They also work great at holding dodging tools on the side of the enlarger.

Peter Schrager · Dec 31, 2020

unfortunately the paper base is only being made by Shoeller and it's like thick cardboard to me. I haven't used any Foam paper lately but I'm not sure if they source from the Germans too. As the film world gets smaller it seems we have less and less choices.

Ilford MG Classic FB Paper Badly Curved

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