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Ilford "Warm" Tone Paper

zrisso

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I am interested in finding out just how warm the tone is in Ilford's Warmtone paper. Specifically: this paper.

Does anyone use this paper on a regular basis? Do you like it?
 
I use it a lot, but only the glossy. It used to have a more yellowish base years ago, which I really liked, both for portrait and landscape. Now the base is whiter and I can't get the same effect, but it still gives a nice subtle warm tone overall to the image. The semi-matte finish gives too flat of a look for my taste, ie doesn't give a good deep black/weak contrast. Of course, matte is better for hand-coloring effect.

Jon
 
Hmm... I was hoping for a more yellow base, so maybe this is not the paper for me.

Have you found another warmtone paper that you like?
 
If you can find the F.G. (Finegrain) Warmtone variant of the Kentmere Fineprint VC range, and don't mind a semi-matte surface, than that will have a very warm creamy paper tone.

Mind you, the naming convention and non-descriptive packaging in the Kentmere paper range is horrible. You could easily end up with a glossy package in your hands.

My pack read on the blue paper type label:

Fineprint VC
F.G. Warmtone D.Wt.

The "F.G." seems to indicate the Finegrain / Semi-matte surface. But that is hardly obvious, especially since there is also the non-warmtone variant of semi-matte called "Finegrain" written fully instead of abreviated to "F.G." that I think doesn't have the same creamy paper base, as it is not mentioned on the Kentmere site. I thought I was buying a glossy package, as I initially assumed anything called "Fineprint VC" was the same paper, and glossy.

The following image was printed on this paper. Note the creamy paper color (also a light sepia toning, but look at the borders):

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I did in the end like the paper very much for an image like this. Probably not suitable for all sorts of images, due to the semi-matte and creamy base, but if you have the right type of image, it can be very nice.

Marco
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Fomatone 132 (matte, though it has some shine to it) has a much creamier base than Ilford. Fomatone 131 (glossy) is not as creamy as the matte version. The Ilford paper is great, but it has a whiter base as has been mentioned. Also, as someone pointed out, the Foma Chamois papers are all creamy, but I don't like them as much as the 132.
 
I would say, not especially. However, perhaps it would have been more so in a paper developer other than Arista Paper Developer. I know, almost as bad as crying 'Long Live Digital' from the rooftops.
 
zrisso said:
I am interested in finding out just how warm the tone is in Ilford's Warmtone paper. Specifically: this paper.

Does anyone use this paper on a regular basis? Do you like it?
Click to expand...

we print onto it often would you like me to send u a paper sample? if so please let me know and i can send one off.

regards
Steve
The Lighthouse Lab
 
zrisso said:
This looks like what I want. I will make a note of it and make sure to pick some up the next time I buy paper.
Click to expand...

Be aware that this specific paper may be difficult to find!!! Although it is still mentioned on the Kentmere site as a regular product, I am not sure if they actually still produce it, as most shops only seem to run the Neutral tone variant of Finegrain, not the Warmtone variant on the creamy paper base...

It might be that this is one of those papers having difficulties because of disappearing paper bases, and changing tastes.

Silverprint, Freestyle, B&H and Adorama only seem to have the Neutral tone variant of Finegrain in stock, which isn't on a creamy paper base...

You may have to look for left over stock in some local shop, which isn't a good prospect...

Shame Kentmere / Ilford is giving no information about the status of this specific product on their website. It would be good to know if there is any hope of it being produced new again.

Maybe the Foma variants are a better prospect...
 
Semi-Matte Example

Dear zrisso,

Attached is a quick scan of the semi-matte surface developed in Dektol. The top image was toned using Kodak brown toner. I find this paper to take a much truer brown when using this toner than others.

Neal Wydra
 

Attachments

  • Ilford Warmtone Semi-Matte Dektol and Tones.jpg
    93.6 KB · Views: 303
In defense of Ilford, they do mention that the Kentmere warmtone is no longer made but that some might still be available at various outlets.

Neal Wydra
 
Neal said:
In defense of Ilford, they do mention that the Kentmere warmtone is no longer made but that some might still be available at various outlets.

Neal Wydra
Click to expand...

OK, I see the discontinuation is mentioned in this PDF, available under the "More Info" tab on the Kentmere Fineprint product page as linked entirely below:

http://www.kentmere.co.uk/Webfiles/20093161412372020.pdf

However, what I don't understand, is that no note is made of this on the main page showing the products of the Fineprint range, it appears to be just another regular still available product:

http://www.kentmere.co.uk/products/product.asp?n=70&t=Kentmere+Photo+Papers

Still, a pity, because it means there is no cream base paper at all in the entire Ilford and Kentmere range... Well, anyway, good Foma has something, the market for this kind of paper is probably to small for two manufacturers.

Marco
 
Neal said:
Dear zrisso,

Attached is a quick scan of the semi-matte surface developed in Dektol. The top image was toned using Kodak brown toner. I find this paper to take a much truer brown when using this toner than others.

Neal Wydra
Click to expand...

Hmm... I might just have to lightly tone it. The top looks somewhat like what I want, but I'd want it quite a bit less toned.

Since the Kentmere brand isn't made anymore, I might have to settle for toning.
 
zrisso said:
Hmm... I might just have to lightly tone it. The top looks somewhat like what I want, but I'd want it quite a bit less toned.

Since the Kentmere brand isn't made anymore, I might have to settle for toning.
Click to expand...

Be aware that that example is from Ilford Warmtone semi-matte. If the semi-matte reacts anything like the glossy variant of Ilford Warmtone, than it will bleach and tone quickly. You may wish to use a diluted bleach for better control...

The still available glossy Kentmere Fineprint papers tone also very nicely and quickly. In fact, I like the tone a bit better, especially when fully bleached and toned, as Ilford Warmtone glossy has a tendency to go an ugly orange in that case, which the Kentmere papers don't. But a recent gallery post by another APUG member showed better results by pre-sulfiding the Ilford Warmtone paper by dipping it in thiourea first, before fully bleaching, resulting in a more pleasant dark reddish tone instead of orange, something I must try out once.

Anyway, not much relevant, since you want to tone very lightly...

Marco
 
You don't have to settle for toning. Fomatone 132 has a cream base and is very good paper. Try it before you decide that toning is the answer. And, if you want to tone, Foma paper responds to toning better than Ilford anyway. I'm not trying to push Foma over Ilford. They both handle separate needs very well. Ilford warmtone glossy is probably my favorite paper, but Foma is nearly as good (or just as good), but it liths much better and responds to toning much better. If it a cream base you are after, it will be hard to find a better paper than the Fomatone 132.
 
Dear zrisso,

Before toning, I would start with a warmer developer than Dektol. Give Tektol Standard a try using higher dilution. The suggestion for trying the Foma products is a good one as well. Even then, if you end up with a tone or color you don't like, a change in developer or dilution might get you where you want to go.

Neal Wydra
 
*love* How did you get it so much cooler at the bottom?
 
I'm in the middle of project for a client using this paper with very dark images. I've been using Ilford Ilfospeed dev, as it is the print finish rather than tone that we're after, but the base colour is not a marked ivory, as others have also mentioned. The image tone has a touch of green with this developer, but only a touch!!. The biggest downside is the cost, otherwise it's a lovely paper once you've got used to the dry-down in highlight tones.
I have a page for paper comparison you may find of interest :
http://www.alistairbaird.co.uk/papers/paper3.html
 
ajuk said:
*love* How did you get it so much cooler at the bottom?
Click to expand...

If I remember it well, I did a split sepia / selenium toning with this one. Light sepia toning first (bleach / redevelop thiourea), followed by selenium.

Thanks
 
Very nice, Marco. After our earlier conversation about bleaching for sepia I haven't gone back to it in fiber...too afraid of that bleaching out of highlights. Have only been practicing the sepia/selenium split with RC. Your results are inspiring though, and I have a bunch of Ilford WT at a reasonable price (ebay, of course).

I haven't made many prints with it yet, my only comment thus far is that semi-matte is VERY VERY matte, at least compared to Polywarmtone semi-matte. I was hoping for a fiber version of the RC satin finish. Unfortunately, semi-matte is the only kind I have and I might not buy it again at retail price...
 
Hmm... I might pick up a small pack of Foma and Ilford and just test out which I like better.
 
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