Kodak Ektalure paper

Craig · Jan 18, 2018

I did a search here for Ektalure, I see lots about it, but nothing about contrast. It was mentioned that it only came in one grade, what would that be? I was gifted a partly used package of 8x10, so what sort of negative is suitable for use with it?

If my reading of the curves in the tech sheet is correct ( Highly unlikely!) it seems like it is suited to high contrast negatives?

mshchem · Jan 18, 2018

Ektalure was offered in a single contrast, for normally exposed negatives. The ultimate warm tone portrait paper. The base paper was cream or white, came in several surface textures. The G surface on cream base was what I always used. Absolutely stunning for portraits or warm subjects. It toned very nicely in Selenium. Having Ilford warmtone variable contrast will do pretty much everything Ektalure could do. The Ilford Art 300 has a surface similar to Ektalure K. Fine grain with a bit more luster than G surface

I think the modern Ilford and Foma offerings are as good as the old stuff, even better. Foma isn't making it right now, but they have a contact speed chloride paper that's everybit as good as Azo.

MattKing · Jan 18, 2018

You best be prepared to put up with a bunch of old photographers bemoaning the loss of the "good old days" .
Referring to my 1970 Kodak Darkroom Dataguide, Ektalure came in one contrast grade - 3 - and an ANSI Speed of 125 - mid-range for an enlarging paper.
As of 1970, it was available in six different surfaces - E, G, K, R, Y, and X - and two different stock tints - Cream White and White. It was only available in double weight.
The 1970 Dataguide had paper samples for the E, K and X surface papers. They are beautiful!
Ektalure was very popular for studio portraits. It was designed to match well with the long toe films that were designed for that application.
I wouldn't describe it as being designed for high contrast negatives. Instead, I would describe it as being designed for negatives with a lot of important shadow details as well as good mid-tone (caucasian skin) reproduction.

Craig · Jan 18, 2018

It's a G surface. Reasonably modern Kodak packaging, there is a logo on it that says "official imaging sponsor of the Olymipc Games". Doesn't say any particular games.

Patrick Robert James · Jan 18, 2018

I'm guessing that would be one of the games that the US hosted.

Ektalure is a fantastic paper. Beautiful tones. I still have a box around here somewhere. Ektalure is an older formulation which ages well. Anything graded that doesn't have "speed" in the name before the mid 90s should still be usable.

voceumana · Jan 18, 2018

Ektalure was for portrait use, as has been stated. Normally for studio shots where lighting is controlled, so multiple grades are not necessary. Typically about a 2-1/2 grade, compared to "average" papers--paper grades were not necessarily equal for different papers. With studio lighting contrast is limited (usually) so development can be a bit stronger for better separation of midtones and highlights--not to the extent of being blown out, of course--making a single grade practical. Medium or large format was assumed, pretty much, for studio work.

mshchem · Jan 18, 2018

MattKing said:
You best be prepared to put up with a bunch of old photographers bemoaning the loss of the "good old days" .
Referring to my 1970 Kodak Darkroom Dataguide, Ektalure came in one contrast grade - 3 - and an ANSI Speed of 125 - mid-range for an enlarging paper.
As of 1970, it was available in six different surfaces - E, G, K, R, Y, and X - and two different stock tints - Cream White and White. It was only available in double weight.
The 1970 Dataguide had paper samples for the E, K and X surface papers. They are beautiful!
Ektalure was very popular for studio portraits. It was designed to match well with the long toe films that were designed for that application.
I wouldn't describe it as being designed for high contrast negatives. Instead, I would describe it as being designed for negatives with a lot of important shadow details as well as good mid-tone (caucasian skin) reproduction.

MATT. Let the moaning begin I remember buying Ektalure G 5x7 in 500 sheet boxes. I did notice in my 1967 Dataguide that there was a solo single weight offering, E, white base. The G surface was magic. At one time I had a Dealer professional paper sample book. It was water stained, and I was a dumb kid, so I got rid of it. It had 8x10 prints like those featured in the older Kodak Darkroom Dataguides. Incredible.I still have a small stash of Ektalure, along with Medalist, and some 11x14 DW Azo. Yes, I'm moaning.
Best, Mike

RPC · Jan 18, 2018

Developed in Selectol, it gave very nice warm, brownish tones.

MattKing · Jan 18, 2018

Just so you understand, I was a teenager for most of my experience with Ektalure .....

Nokton48 · Jan 18, 2018

I loaded up on 8x10 and 16x20 G Ektalure right after they announced it's being discontinued. It's all in my deep freeze.
Absolutely my favorite pictorial paper.

mshchem · Jan 18, 2018

Nokton48 said:
I loaded up on 8x10 and 16x20 G Ektalure right after they announced it's being discontinued. It's all in my deep freeze.
Absolutely my favorite pictorial paper.

You might wan't to be careful about disclosing this sort of information. God knows what some Ektalure crazed person might do to get it.

M Carter · Jan 18, 2018

I'd test it for fog - if it has moderate fog, sell it to a lith printer. It's a nice printing paper, but it's just the holy grain for lith printing. Why fight the fog when it doesn't matter for lith? (Or get some lith developer and have at it - Ektalure is great even in cheap Arista lith).

darkroommike · Jan 19, 2018

mshchem said:
You might wan't to be careful about disclosing this sort of information. God knows what some Ektalure crazed person might do to get it.

Ektalure in the G surface was a favorite once I "discovered" the correct developer, in Dektol the stuff takes on a kind of unpleasant green shade, I used to say "G" stood for gross. I switched first to Ektonol and then when that was discontinued to Selectol. When Ektalure was discontinued (the first time!) I switched to Luminos Classic Pearl (which I think was made by Kentmere). And after it was discontinued the second time we started using Polyfiber G, which was a different beast altogether and we also had to change up our tining and other post processing routines.

Christiaan Phleger · Jan 19, 2018

There you go; Ektalure + Ektonal + Kodak Brown Toner; RIP. That combo put many long hair hippie kids thru college.

kreeger · Jan 20, 2018

So, maybe this will put this question to bed. I recently found a 1979 Kodak Black and White Darkroom Dataguide.

Notice the chart attached, it's showing the contrast of Ektalure to be a 3. Hope this information is of use to all of you lucky enough to still have some Ektalure out there..
Some other morsels of information from the "great yellow father" about the legacy papers.

voceumana · Jan 23, 2018

That Dataguide doesn't really put the issue to bed, since a later dataguide (1988) lists Ektalure as Grade 2 with a speed of 125.

I suspect that the design of Ektalure changed over the years. Note this from the 1988 Dataguide: "Because of the great improvements in films over the years, most negatives are now produced in cameras with formats smaller than 4x5 inches, and are enlarged to varying degrees."

It would make sense for Kodak to reformulate their papers based on current usage trends. In any case, Ektalure was never made in more than a single grade based on publicationsI have going back to the early 1960's, so it is intended for "normal" contrast negatives. When contact prints were more the norm for professional portraits, Ektalure was probably a slightly lower contrast paper than for when enlarging became the norm. Enlarging always produces a lower contrast image at the paper than does contact printing because flare inherent in the enlarging process reduces contrast.

MattKing · Jan 23, 2018

The ANSI speed standard might have also changed at some time.

Christiaan Phleger · Jan 23, 2018

The loss of Ektalure was most probably due to the removal of Cadium in all B&W Kodak products in the late 1970's. I am under the understanding that this was also the reason that we lost Panatomic-X at that same time.

kreeger · Jan 23, 2018

voceumana said:
That Dataguide doesn't really put the issue to bed, since a later dataguide (1988) lists Ektalure as Grade 2 with a speed of 125.

Craig said:
... modern Kodak packaging, there is a logo on it that says "official imaging sponsor of the Olymipc Games". Doesn't say any particular games.

Interesting comments about end game Ektalure runs.

Humor me... I am one of these shooters old enough to have bought products new then, I remember Kodak putting Olympic stamp on products around the time leading up to the 1980 Lake Placid, NY Olympics. In that event, the 1979 data sheet I posed would be period correct. Kodak's big into Olympics but markings on B&W paper like Ektalure might be a one time event.

Craig in Alberta, could you post a picture or two of the package when you have a moment? Close up of the Ektalure label on front and back of the paper ?

Craig · Jan 23, 2018

As requested.

kreeger · Jan 25, 2018

From what I know, that packages is from the 90s somewhere. Too new to be Lake Placid Olympic era.

Kodak discontinued it all together in 1999 along with a handful of other papers due to formulas not kosher with the EPA. G surface was gone before 1999.

Rutroe · Feb 6, 2022

Craig said:
I did a search here for Ektalure, I see lots about it, but nothing about contrast. It was mentioned that it only came in one grade, what would that be? I was gifted a partly used package of 8x10, so what sort of negative is suitable for use with it?

If my reading of the curves in the tech sheet is correct ( Highly unlikely!) it seems like it is suited to high contrast negatives?

I have some ektalure g#2384 1979.
I am not a photographer, but I came across some old equipment, and paper, have no clue what I have.

Rutroe · Feb 6, 2022

mshchem said:
Ektalure was offered in a single contrast, for normally exposed negatives. The ultimate warm tone portrait paper. The base paper was cream or white, came in several surface textures. The G surface on cream base was what I always used. Absolutely stunning for portraits or warm subjects. It toned very nicely in Selenium. Having Ilford warmtone variable contrast will do pretty much everything Ektalure could do. The Ilford Art 300 has a surface similar to Ektalure K. Fine grain with a bit more luster than G surface

I think the modern Ilford and Foma offerings are as good as the old stuff, even better. Foma isn't making it right now, but they have a contact speed chloride paper that's everybit as good as Azo.

See yes

Rutroe · Feb 6, 2022

I have a sealed pkg of ektalure g #2384 11 x 14 1979
Is it any good?

Rutroe · Feb 6, 2022

Rutroe said:
See yes

I have some ektalure g #2384 g cream double wieght sealed pkg 10 sheets year 1979.
I would give it to someone if I knew any photographers.
That's why I joined aso some equipment I have no idea what it is, big arm spring loaded light,with both florescent ,and incadecent in same fixture?
thick 4" tall magnifier glass ?
Some type of cutting board?
I tried to upload pics , but site stated To Large to upload?

Kodak Ektalure paper

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