Ilford postcard paper?

Robert · Jan 17, 2003

Can I really just put a stamp on the back of this and drop it in the mailbox? Is Ilford the only maker? Kodak stopped thiers I think.

Robert · Jan 17, 2003

Well did some research. Seems the difference with the Ilford paper is it's heavier and is printed on the back. But even heavier I think it's lighter then Agfa's normal RC paper. The printing can be handled with a postcard stamp. Took awhile to find a picture of those. Checked the Canada Post website and a 5x7 is a little too big to send under the postcard rule but seems okay under the normal letter method. I don't think they have a special postcard rate anymore so it would seem better to just send 5x7s. Now to find the stamp locally.

DKT · Jan 17, 2003

I haven't had any problems mailing them in the US...you have to use a sharpie or something like that to write on them though. The only problems I've had with them is that the base is so rigid, that the print won't run through Ilford's own 2150 processor. The prints just jump the racks.....

KT

lee · Jan 17, 2003

I get a few of these cards a year. Go for it. Ilford is the only maker I am aware of.

lee\c

Nige · Jan 18, 2003

the ones I have aren't 5x7, they are 10x15cm (3 7/8x 5 7/8in).

Robert · Jan 18, 2003

Are they much different then just using 5x7s? The larger size of the 5x7 wouldn't be bad plus it lets me use something that's widely available. I can get a rubber stamp to create the back part of the postcard.

Nige · Jan 18, 2003

well the only things I can think of is that a stamp could smudge, and these look like the real thing

I can only buy these things in boxes of 100, so once you order one box (from ?) that's all you'll need for a few weeks

David A. Goldfarb · Jan 18, 2003

In the U.S. I think 5x7" would be too large to send at the postcard rate, but you could send it with first class stamp.

Robert · Jan 18, 2003

With me a 100 would be more like 10 years-) Using normal 5x7s would be simpler. At least I think so. I use 5x7s for most things. Only printing the better stuff bigger. Even then 5x7s are easier to find spots for. It seems Canada post got rid of the special rate for postcards. They still have a measurement for it on the website but it goes at the same rate letters go.

Just seems too easy. What's the worst that can happen I'm out a stamp?

bmac · Jan 18, 2003

I guess I'll have to be the bad guy here. I think the Ilford Postcard Paper is total crap. The are way thinner than a normal postcard and have Ilfords branding on the back of them. They are light weight, and the glossy ones gets smudges and finger prints all over them. I think you are better off using a thick fiber paper such as Forte museum weight and stamping the back of them.

ingnes · Feb 15, 2006

I have also had postcard papers from Tetenal. But I don't know if they are still being produced.

Andy K · Feb 15, 2006

Robert, the rear of Ilford's postcard paper looks like this (I've had to darken this scan quite a bit to get the printing to show):

and Bmac, manufacturers branding the back of their paper is nothing new and not restricted to Ilford. I have hundreds of prints with Kodak, Agfa, Fuji etc. branding on the rear.

Dave Miller · Feb 15, 2006

I think you must have been useing something else Brian; I don't recognise your description of the Ilford product.

Robert, if your join the postcard circle, then a 100 sheet box will not last you a year; so don't worry about it going off.

pschauss · Feb 15, 2006

Who carries postcard paper these days. My usual sources (B&H, et. al) do not list it.

Dave Miller · Feb 15, 2006

Check the other Ilford thread; it's coming.

gnashings · Feb 15, 2006

Well, I just got a lovely print on one of these postcards - all the way from across the ocean! Thanks Andy - its displayed in a place of honour in my living room and my wife just loves the idea (and the cat!).
Other than that, I do not think its lighter than Agfa RC - I just held the two side by side... but, frankly, I expected it to be a heavier weight of paper.
Also, as Andy pointed out, the printing on the back is very faint - but I wonder if that is not done in order to avoid any interferecne with the image on the front? I don't know.
One thing I can tell you, it produces a beautiful image and mine arrived relatively unmolested by the passage - but I think it was treated as a letter, due to the presence of a bar code ): blemishing the front...
All in all, its a great product because it puts you in the frame of mind of saying hello to your friends in far away places, and sharing your work with people - to me, that is worth the price of admission. I would like to see the stock a little heavier though.

Peter.

PS. Oh yeah - I've been ordered to buy some by the better half, but no one in Canada seems to carry it as of now.

nworth · Feb 15, 2006

In the US, some pretty thin stuff can go through the mails. Judging by the return cards used by book and record clubs, you could cut down medium weight stock and mail it as a postcard. Double weight stock is pretty close to standard postcard thickness. Rules about thickness and face printing no doubt vary from country to country. If face printing is required it could be done with an inkjet printer (or a laser it you use fiber based paper). You can certainly make your own postcards from regular photo paper.

gnashings · Feb 15, 2006

I have 4x6 1 hour photo prints that friends stuck a stamp on, wrote an adress and send - seems to be no issue at all in the USA and Canada.

Maine-iac · Feb 17, 2006

ingnes said:
I have also had postcard papers from Tetenal. But I don't know if they are still being produced.

Tetenal's paper was really Agfa. And, malheuresement, Agfa is no more.

Larry

lowellh · Feb 17, 2006

Kentmere offers some very nice Post Card stock. Check with Freestyle Photo

Rolfe Tessem · Feb 17, 2006

lowellh said:
Kentmere offers some very nice Post Card stock. Check with Freestyle Photo

I don't find this on Freestyle's web site -- can your provide a link or a pointer?

mongo141 · Mar 13, 2006

Postcard Paper

Rolfe Tessem said:
I don't find this on Freestyle's web site -- can your provide a link or a pointer?

J&C will have Ilford Postcard Paper in both Glossy and Pearl on 17 March so John says on the web site. I just ordered a box of Pearl and probably will wish I had ordered more. Dave

Charles Webb · Mar 14, 2006

gnashings said:
One thing I can tell you, it produces a beautiful image and mine arrived relatively unmolested by the passage - but I think it was treated as a letter, due to the presence of a bar code ): blemishing the front..

Just wondering if something like film cleaner might remove the blemish made by the bar code. Sure would hate to ruin a nice print, but the stamped bar code already is one step in that direction. Has anyone tried to remove it?

Charlie........................

canuhead · Apr 20, 2006

Didn't think it warranted a new thread but would anyone else be psyched if Ilford's postcard paper was available in fibre ? Yeah it'd be more work but it would look and feel fantastic imnsho

Whaddyathink Simon ? Count me in if you're keeping score....glossy,gr 3.

butterflydream · Feb 1, 2007

I bought Fuji postcard paper last time in Japan at the clear-up. I stashed it and yesterday I made first print. It is amazing fiberbase paper. Unfortunately it is discontinued... I regret I hadn't bought it more.

Ilford postcard paper?

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