Kodak Professional Endura Premier for Darkroom Use

[Roger Cole]

I recall measuring densities of at least 2.1 with the CAII glossy paper in my darkroom, and I don't know if that was even Dmax. So the 1.8-1.9 figures are unrealistic. Just because the densities of other papers may be higher doesn't mean they are better overall. And can anyone really see the difference between 2.1 and 2.3 or 2.4?

I have done A-B comparisons with Endura and CAII using the same negative, color balanced the same and it was hard to see any difference. CAII can be used with confidence.

Can't be. Drew is a paid shill for Fuji or some such thing and no one can actually get good optical results from CAII.

/sarcasm

 

[DREW WILEY]

I can't go into details because this is an analog only forum. But it's pretty well known that digital calibrations or aim point should never be
made right on the basement floor, that is, close to absolute DMax, or else there will be no wiggle room to balance anything else - and sometimes it is impossible to balance all three exposing colors together at DMax, or even where the curve starts drifting significantly from a straight line. In ordinary optical printing we have a slightly different problem, because the neg is already masked and adapted to a "typical" contrast range relative to how a specific type of film is marketed. Most of the time you just select an appropriate paper for your generic subjects, and either like it or not. But an advanced printer can bend the rules, mask for true DMax or crisper specular highlights, contrast and hue restructuring - all kinds of things. Most of the time it's easier just to switch films, since there is a nice selection in terms
of contrast and saturation at the moment.