Kodak mystery type 2200 'special' paper

apbphoto · Mar 30, 2022

So I got a fabulous haul of black and white paper for my newly rebuilt darkroom including boxes of 20x16 Galerie which is very pleasing. Amongst the treasures was a mystery box which the seller had acquired some time back and could not tell me whether it is colour or black and white. Maybe not even sensitised. Who knows? I attach a photo of the label between other illustrious papers. It's not in any of my Kodak data guides or other literature and I've found nothing on Tinternet.

Anyone got any clues? It may well have an explanatory leaflet inside though my previous experience with Kodak pre-release and special order items suggests it won't have one and I don't want to break the seal if someone is looking for an intact package.

MattKing · Mar 30, 2022

I would guess one of two types:
1) paper designed for activation processing; or
2) paper designed for use in graphics art applications, which may also be designed for activation processing.

Mike Crawford · Mar 30, 2022

It sort of sounds familiar. As Matt says, might be a paper for graphic arts, otherwise preparing line and text illustrations for publications, which was a big thing for Kodak prior to the use of digital in the reprographic printing industry. I've got an old Kodak sample book and Kodaline paper is described as 'Rapid.' I've used Kodaline film for photographing monochrome artwork in the past in the 80s, which was Orthochromatic, and not as contrasty as Kodalith, but think the paper must have been before my time, though your Kodak box doesn't look too old. Kodak also made dedicated lith papers, usually single weight as were used for camera ready artwork paste up, which were one of the first papers to be used for what we call 'lith printing' now. I've still got a roll of their TP5 lith paper and I should maybe explore it again sometime.

Anyway, possibility it might be a great paper for lith printing. But only one way to find out!

But also might be an activation paper which wouldn't be much use!!

apbphoto · Mar 30, 2022

Mike Crawford said:
It sort of sounds familiar. As Matt says, might be a paper for graphic arts, otherwise preparing line and text illustrations for publications, which was a big thing for Kodak prior to the use of digital in the reprographic printing industry. I've got an old Kodak sample book and Kodaline paper is described as 'Rapid.' I've used Kodaline film for photographing monochrome artwork in the past in the 80s, which was Orthochromatic, and not as contrasty as Kodalith, but think the paper must have been before my time, though your Kodak box doesn't look too old. Kodak also made dedicated lith papers, usually single weight as were used for camera ready artwork paste up, which were one of the first papers to be used for what we call 'lith printing' now. I've still got a roll of their TP5 lith paper and I should maybe explore it again sometime.

Anyway, possibility it might be a great paper for lith printing. But only one way to find out!

But also might be an activation paper which wouldn't be much use!!

Thanks for the insights! Well I guess if it’s an activation paper it’s probably of no use to anyone these days. But as a lith paper I could happily dabble with that. Where’s Tim Rudman (Mr Lith) when you need him?

Maris · Mar 30, 2022

Activation paper alias stabilization process paper had developer incorporated in the emulsion. After exposure the paper was immersed in a strong alkaline solution which activated the developer molecules which were sitting right next to the exposed silver halide crystals. Hence very rapid development. I've used such papers in a conventional developer - stop - fix work flow and they work just fine. BUT because the developer molecules are already in the emulsion stabilization process papers had a short shelf life before fogging rendered them useless. Old activation/stabilization paper is very likely dead. Testing will reveal.

apbphoto · Mar 31, 2022

I better get testing I suppose. I’m surprised no-one has heard of this paper if it is in fact an activation type as I thought they were widely used back in the day.

AgX · Mar 31, 2022

MattKing said:
I would guess one of two types:
1) paper designed for activation processing; or
2) paper designed for use in graphics art applications, which may also be designed for activation processing.

3) paper designed for a diffusion process

apbphoto · Mar 31, 2022

Pray tell - what is a diffussion process? Google seems to indicate something to do with Brownian motion. Surely smoke is not involved??

AgX · Apr 3, 2022

In photography a diffusion process is when ouf of a negative image-forming substances diffuse into a seperate layer forming there a positive image. First reinvented in the late 30's independently by Agfa and by Gevaert. Later kinf of copied by Polaroid.
Such process makes part of the group of direct positive materials.

apbphoto · Apr 3, 2022

Thank you for this: very interesting. I'll have to open it up and do some tests when the opportunity arises.

inezross · Apr 28, 2022

Mike Crawford said:
It sort of sounds familiar. As Matt says, might be a paper for graphic arts, otherwise preparing line and text illustrations for publications, which was a big thing for Kodak prior to the use of digital in the reprographic printing industry. I've got an old Kodak sample book and Kodaline paper is described as 'Rapid.' I've used Kodaline film for photographing monochrome artwork in the past in the 80s, which was Orthochromatic, and not as contrasty as Kodalith, but think the paper must have been before my time, though your Kodak box doesn't look too old. Kodak also made dedicated lith papers, usually single weight as were used for camera ready artwork paste up, which were one of the first papers to be used for what we call 'lith printing' now. I've still got a roll of their TP5 lith paper and I should maybe explore it again sometime. Anyway, possibility it might be a great paper for lith printing. But only one way to find out! But also might be an activation paper which wouldn't be much use!!

Kodak mystery type 2200 'special' paper

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