Ilford vs Arista

[kevin klein]

I recieved a box of Arista EDU #2 grade RC paper and did a comparison test with Ilford multigrade RC paper. Even thaough multigrade is rated somewhere around 3-4, I still got better midtone detail on the Ilford multigrade with no filter (contact prints from collodion negatives) than on the #2 paper, even using diferent light sources. Just an observation.

 

[Ian Grant]

It may be due to the colour sensitisation of the thre emulsion components in the Multigrade paper meaning it's slightly better with your Cllodon negatives. Any staining may act as a filter.

Ian

 

[chip j]

Arista is indeed a lesser paper.

 

[Pioneer]

It would appear that Arista EDU Ultra RC paper is not the paper you want to use with you collodion negatives.

I am not sure that automatically means that Arista is a lesser paper. Every paper responds a bit differently to light.

 

[Ian Grant]

It would appear that Arista EDU Ultra RC paper is not the paper you want to use with you collodion negatives.

I am not sure that automatically means that Arista is a lesser paper. Every paper responds a bit differently to light.

Well put, I've never found a paper that could really be termed lesser.

Ian

 

[velarpinch]

My Arista paper info sheet says it's made for use with a halogen light source. Were any of the lights you tried halogen?

 

[Ian Grant]

Kevin was comparing a VC paper (Multigrade to a fixed grade #2 version of Arista EDU. The spectral responses will be different due to the dye sensitisers in the Mutigrade paper.

My Arista paper info sheet says it's made for use with a halogen light source. Were any of the lights you tried halogen?

Not correct they say Tungsten or Quartz Halogen, then go on to say that contrast grades may need slightly different filtration with other light sources. Foma themselves say that Fomasped is suitable for any type of enlarger light source.

Ian

 

[Ian Grant]

Just to show the differences:

These are the spectral sensitivities of Fomaspeed Graded paper (top) and Fomaspeed Variant III a variable contrast paper (bottom). So quite a difference.

Ilford's own chart for Multigrade IV (below0 isn't directly comparable Their chart for Ilfospeed RC DeLuxe is similar to the graded Fomaspeed.

Ian