Legendary Qualities of Discontinued Papers

[Nicholas Lindan]

1 You can learn to get great results from almost anything
2 In your youth you got the occasional lucky hit

2 minus 1 = THEY DON'T MAKE GREAT PAPER ANY MORE

1 minus 2 = AND THEY NEVER DID

 

[Rlibersky]

Does anyone know what type of paper military contact papers where? I have a few and all they say is CHLORIDE

 

[dynachrome]

Old Printing Papers

The papers I miss the most are the recently discontinued graded Kodabrome RC and Polymax RC. Kodabrome in grades other than 2 and 3 had to be pruchased in very large size boxes. The Polymax RC was naturally a grade 2.5with white light and I was able to make most prints without a filter. Of the older papers I miss Agfa Brovira #6 and Dupont Velour Black. The #6 Agfa paper was handy for rescuing thin negatives and for special high contrast effects. The Velour Black had a nice tone and a rich black. I print mostly with Ilford RC paper now.

 

[LaChou]

1 minus 2 = AND THEY NEVER DID

Nice way of thought, BTW. Can one believe in the "1"? For me that is the question. Like one good guy said somewhere in these forums: "What is photographed doesn't matter since it has been developed in a masterly fashion". For myself, I can't make miracles in the darkroom, so I need the paper to help me, not to struggle with me. Given the to-days prices, also what is photographed does matter, unless the guy wants to send those "masterpieces of development" directly to the trash bin.

 

[LaChou]

Hrm interesting thread considering I just got done printing two images onto 5x7 (cut from 8x10) of some Ansco Cykora Y-2 Silk Double Weight. They're currently drying, but I can definitely relate to the 'texture' and 'look' you are refering to. This is the test strip (the second strip actually) that I used to determine exposure, tried to capture the 'texture' via the light.

http://www.karlblessing.com/shares/prints/cykora.jpg

I think I'll have fun with it since I got like 50 sheets left, basically if I try to develop any longer than 1 minute in dektol 1+3 the white base will start to darken rapidly so kept the development of the two prints that are drying right at about 1 minute, they look real nice indeed. I also have a few sheets of Defender Velour Black #4 that I haven't tested yet, the cykora expired in '57, the velour in '56, so not sure if the velour is any good but I know the cykora is definitely usable.

Wow to this test strip! that's what I'm talking'bout. You don't have to struggle with a paper from the 50-ies.

BTW, I have heard some indefinite things about Forte Polygrade V. Since it is available "cheap" here in Kiev should I try it? What developer will do cold (warm)?