improved Ilfocolor papers

[Stephen Frizza]

Ilfochrome really isnt that expensive when you take into account what is it. Fact is quality costs.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Ilfochrome really isnt that expensive when you take into account what is it. Fact is quality costs.

Stephen,

How many contrast and colour saturation issues have you experienced with printing on Ilfochrome? I guess films like Fuji Astia 100F may be more straightforward to print.

Tom

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Ilfochrome really isnt that expensive when you take into account what is it. Fact is quality costs.

It doesn't need repeating. And quality never goes out of style.

 

[Stephen Frizza]

Stephen,

How many contrast and colour saturation issues have you experienced with printing on Ilfochrome? I guess films like Fuji Astia 100F may be more straightforward to print.

Tom

Well like with all film and printing it, things need to be done...but very little cant be overcome.

 

[Brac]

I had a look at the link to the Ilford Imaging Switzerland site, where it lists both high & low contrast versions of its Micrographics film.

On the site it says, "The appropriate effective speed is rated below 1 ASA. This relatively low speed value is due to the fact that ILFOCHROME MICROGRAPHICS FILM is a silver-dye bleach material where all dyes are incorporated in the emulsion layers during manufacture and to not have to be generated during processing. During exposure these dyes absorb part of the light. On the other hand, this layer structure accounts for the high acutance, the excellent archival stability and high resistance to light fading, characteristic of ILFOCHROME material."

Clearly the films are highly specialised, but they have a claimed archival life of around 500 years. I don't think in the present climate we can expect to see this firm going into the market for conventional colour films.

It is very confusing having two different companies using the Ilford brand (both were once the same company, before the previous Ilford collapsed). The revived UK operation is actually Harman Technology Ltd and they have the right to use the Ilford Photo brand for black & white materials only. As both companies make ink jet materials, those made & sold by Harman, are branded Harman, and those sold by Ilford Imaging Switzerland are branded Ilford. Some of the latter's ink jet materials were actually sub-contracted to Harman for manufacture, but whether that still happens is no doubt a matter confidential between the two companies.

The introduction by Harman Technology of films branded Kentmere (a UK photographic paper manufacturer they purchased & then shifted production to Harman's Cheshire factory) possibly indicates that they will increasingly use the brands Harman & Kentmere in the future, rather than Ilford. It will be interesting to see what happens.