Ilford RC paper question (newbie Q)

I know this is difficult to answer on text only forum but....

I have been using the regular Ilford RC multigrade glassy surface paper. The exact type is Ilford MGIV Multigrae IV RC Deluxe - Glossy. This is the only paper I know other than the old Kodak graded paper from decades ago.

Today, I was thinking about using different kind of paper.

Can someone please tell me what would WARM TONE paper would do? Is this where contrast gets lowered or is this where the image takes brownish - sepia tone? "Warm" kind of tells me the image will shift to the red a little.

I know what Glossy surface looks like, but what are Pearl, and Satin surface like? From naming they aren't quite obvious to me. Are they suited for certain type of printing?

I'd really like to experiment but to buy one of each would be very expensive. I'd like to understand (on paper <G>) what they are like and perhaps pick one or two to start.

Thank you.

SHOP LOCAL

go to your local dealer who SHOULD have a "book" that shows all ilford papers with pictures printed on them, and details

pearl is between gloss and flat

Warmtone paper tones better- you can access a bigger range of tones, and you can do it quite easily. Untoned, it is not really all that warm- you might expect from the name that it'd look sepia, but this is not the case... unless you sepia tone it. Untoned, it is slightly warmer (noticeable mostly in the highlights) than the non-warmtone paper.

If you are interested in toning then warmtone is a good place to start. You could get some sepia and selenium toners and do a series of split-toned prints from pure sepia to pure selenium, and then you'll see what warmtone can do. You can also tone it quite cold too, by the way.

Glossy is, as you know, very reflective and wet looking; pearl and satin less so.

Multigrade versions of all of these are available, which means that you can print them at different contrast grades and also do split-grade printing (sequential printing with two multigrade filters). Just get yourself some paper and a pack of filters and enjoy all the possibilities.

Ilford Mutigrade Warmtone is quite similar to what you have been using, but it has a slightly browner tone. The tone is ehnanced somewhat by using a warmtone developer. The difference between the Ilford warmtone paper and cool tone varieties is not great, but it is enough to change the mood of some pictures. Choice between warmtone and cooler papers is subtle and depends on the scene. You may have to try both to find out which is best. The warmth of the tone also interacts with the surface of the paper to produce the visual effect, so you should explore different surfaces as well. Other manufacturers, such as Foma, produce papers that have considerably warmer tone than the Ilford variety.

Send a pm with your question to Simon Galley (he is the Ilford Harman vice-president who posts here regularly). He might be able to show you the answer .

Matt

Dear TKamiya,

PM me your postal address and I will send you all the information that you will need.

Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :