Is There A Way To Remove Fog From Fiber Paper?

Arthurwg

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I think I remember that there's a way to remove fog from older fiber paper. If so, what would that be, and how would you do it?
 

Kino

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Benzotriazole can be used as a fog restrainer when processing outdated papers. You may have to experiment with exposure (a bit more) to offset some speed loss.

EDIT: This thread for how to use:

How to use benzotriazole?

Google seems to be giving me varied results... I've some expired film with a mild fog i'd like to try it on, along with some old paper that is slightly foggy. I'm planning to use D76 for the film, but also have ID-11 and Microphen if they would be more suitable, and Multigrade for the paper.
www.photrio.com
 

Andrew O'Neill

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Get some Benzotriazole. Make up a 1% solution (1g mixed into 100ml distilled water). Start by adding a wee bit to your developer tray, say 5ml. Make a test strip with first step receiving no exposure. Adjust amount of the 1% solution, more if still fogged, less if white (find the min max amount required).
 

Kino

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I have some 11 x 14 Ilford FB paper that will undoubtedly require a dose of this; provided I ever make a negative worth printing that size.

It's a race; quality vs time to fog. Odds are on the fog...
 

laser

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post process Farmer's Reducer.
 

xkaes

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It would help if we knew more. How do you know it "has fog"? How old is it, how has it been stored, how did you develop it (assuming you did), for how long, have you tested your safelights, etc.

We are offering suggestions without knowing details about the problem. Sounds like the makings of a wild goose chase.

Help us help you.
 

Melvin J Bramley

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I have lots of old paper of various manufacture.
Even my oldest Ilford RC and fibre paper still print nicely.
Agfa Kodak and others that have developer incorporated in the emulsion have fog with Kodak being the worst.
xkaes suggests a good place to start and laser offers a good remedy.
 

koraks

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laser said:
post process Farmer's Reducer.
Click to expand...

This will remove the fog.

Kino said:
Benzotriazole can be used as a fog restrainer
Click to expand...

And this will prevent it from developing.

Both are viable ways to deal with the issue, but with their own pros and cons. Neither will restore an expired paper to its original glory, although fine results can still be had from it if the negative is suitable and the stars align.

Personally, I don't bother with fogged paper. Too time-consuming and the results just never really live up to the real deal IMO. To each their own.
 

geirtbr

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Yes it works. It takes experimentation to get it to work right. I found combination of bromide and benzo to work best, but as little as needed of both. It hurts the blackness level when you add to much. Another thing is to watch the development time. Too much development increase fog. And use a high contrast developer (like d19) helps.
Its a bit tedious process but it works.
It may be better to use old paper with lith-process techniques.
Another way to freshen up old RC paper is reversal development. It will give clearer whites, better contrast, and deeper blacks.
 

Bill Burk

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There is always Photoshop. What I mean is, you can print it gray, photograph the print, adjust the levels and share online.

If your desire to learn fine printing doesn’t depend on you seeing the fine-looking result, then you could make use of expired and fogged paper.
 

koraks

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retina_restoration said:
You've obviously never been a fan of Portriga Rapid, or you'd make room in your heart for (certain) outdated papers!
Click to expand...

Ah, but the Agfa FB papers I've tried so far tended to be relatively free of fog! Record Rapid and Brovira often print just fine despite their age, and are indeed beautiful papers. What I'm not so enthusiastic about is fogged papers. Outdated papers can be fine. I've got an open pack of Orwo single weight paper I sometimes take a sheet out of and I quite enjoy that, too.
 

retina_restoration

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I would say that about half of the packages of Portriga Rapid I've acquired in the past 8 years or so have been conspicuously fogged. You've been lucky if you haven't encountered this.
 

koraks

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I've only had a few packs and boxes of old Agfa paper. Most was Brovira, only a minimal amount of Record Rapid. No Portriga as I recall. The FB ones I got were all fine, which surprised me. There was also some RC paper and all of that was totally unusable. Some of it I've used up, some of it I've passed on to other people. I've none of this left.
 
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