Looking for paper/developer recommendations

I have been making pictures for a long time. After years out of the darkroom, I've been back in for about a year. Years ago I liked Portriga very much, but of course that is gone. Today I've been using the Ilford Multigrade RC both the regular and the portfolio weight, in both Pearl and Glossy. I develop this in Dektol 1:2 for the most part.

I shoot mostly portraits with medium format and just recently started working again with the 8x10. I like FP4 and HP5, and currently I soup that in D76 1:1.

I am looking for paper/developer recommendations. I like the variable contrast of the MG, but I want a fiber based paper, and I would like it to be a little warmer and with richer blacks. With respect to developer, I don't think I have any real issues with the performance of Dektol, I would just like to use something other than Kodak chemistry (don't know when they'll discontinue it).

Interested in your recommendations, directions to start.

Thanks
Neal Wilson

I have found Ansco 130 (available at PF) to be an outstanding developer,
and feel it runs a close second to amidol. My new favorite paper is Adox VarioG, but it isn't a warm paper right out of the box.
There are as many opinions on this as there are photographers, of course.

If you're satisfied with Dektol, keep using it. The worst-case scenario is that Kodak will eventually discontinue it, at which point you'll be able to make it (or D-72, to be more precise) yourself or (probably) buy a version made by somebody else. Abandoning a company's products today because you think they might disappear tomorrow can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

If you are interested in returning to a graded fiber paper then I would recommend JandC's Nuance Exposition paper. This is a paper made by Adox. This paper is the paper that exhibits the deepest black of any paper that I have tested including Azo. It exhibits a very nice tonal scale. I have printed with the old graded Oriental and the old graded Brilliant so when I make statements about a paper then I am judging on the merits of some very fine papers in their time. Nuance truly is a wonderful paper.

In regard to developers, that depends on what you want to obtain in your prints and whether you want to mix your own developers. I use D 72 for my normal proofing work. I have published a formula for Pyro Plus Paper Developer. This is a paper developer that several photographers use and compare favorably to the Michael Smith Amidol formula. The cost of formulation is less then the Amidol formula. There are several good paper developer formulas available.

Efke Emaks 888 (JandC's Nuance Exposition paper in US) is a very interesting paper, as Donald said, coupled with Ilford ID 78 warm tone paper in my taste.
Foma Baryt Vario (variable contrast) is another paper that I suggest coupled with Donald PPPD new formulation. Great black and a very complete tones scale.
These are two of my actually favourite papers and developers too.
But taste is very personal...........

Thanks for the suggestions

Thanks to those who replied. I am most interested in pre-packaged developers. I don't think I have all the tools I would need to mix up developers from scratch successfully.

I'll consider the paper recommendations and the couple of prepared developers that were recommended.

Thanks.
Neal

Neal, having used portriga myself many moons ago, i know the kind of look you are after. As you have been using ilford paper, why not try their warmtone vc fibre paper, I also like Forte polygrade warmtone vc fibre both are available at Band h photo video. I don't think dektol will be going anywhere too soon and as your familliar with it keep using it, you can dilute it to gain the level of warmth you require.
Hope this helps.
Andy

hi neal -


if K- stops making the package you are used to, and you have to mix-your-own, the kits sold by the different chem suppliers (artcraft/formulary) come with everything premeasured, you just mix the different elements up in water, and that's all there is to it

i tend to use ansco 130 because once mixed, the stock solution seems to last forever, so i buy it 1-time a year. it is a nice all-around developer - neutral +rich blacks and when you dilute it a bit it is softer. i've used it with all sorts of papers, the ones you mention work well too ...

good luck!
-john

wilsonneal said:

Thanks to those who replied. I am most interested in pre-packaged developers. I don't think I have all the tools I would need to mix up developers from scratch successfully.

I'll consider the paper recommendations and the couple of prepared developers that were recommended.

Thanks.
Neal

Click to expand...

Sure you do! I'm no scientist (Evil maybe) and I'm doing it. All you need are a set of table/teaspoons and a 1-liter beaker/graduate. Grab a copy of Anchell's "Darkoom Cookbook" and go. There are lots of film and paper recipes in there and a conversion chart to go from grams to table/teaspoons.

Visit http://www.artchemicals.com/ and http://www.photoformulary.com/DesktopDefault.aspx to get started.

Artcraft will make any kit from the "Cookbook" that you want and Formulary sells pre-packaged kits.

Re: Kodak and Dektol, as long as we buy it, they'll make it.

Sorry, that should be http://www.artcraftchemicals.com/

Why not stick with what you know and use MGIV-FB? I would also recommend Ansco 130 - I make my own but the Formulary sell it prepackaged if you do not want to muck about with measuring chemicals. I've had it in my Nova slot tank for 6 weeks with no apparent change in activity. I just emptied it tonight when I finished my postcards - no reason to, just getting silly having it in there all this time... It turns a dark caramel colour but that seems to make no difference to it . I'm colourblind so I'm not the best judge, but with Ansco 130 you seem to get a good solid black with MGIV with none of the green tint people often report with Dektol.

Other options for warmer blacks in a liquid developer are Agfa Neutol WT (also very long lasting) which is back on the shelves again, or the new Ilford/Harman Warmtone (not used it myself yet but reports look good). Try them with the Ilford MGIV Warmtone too as you may well like the tones but be aware that you will get a very warm tone... I also liked the Polywarmtone from Forte but it is very slow - too slow for me.

Cheers, Bob.

Thanks to all

Thanks again for the recommends.

I'll make another pitch for the Ansco 130 as a good option, and also mention the new Ilford Warmtone and Cooltone developers. They're quite good, pre-mixed, and very economical. I've been using this combination with Bergger VCCB warmtone paper. This will let you get warm, cool, and in-between results. You can split your development between warmtone and cooltone developers to adjust the image tone from cold blue-black to rich chocolate. While it doesn't last like the Ansco 130, it has good keeping power.

TheFlyingCamera said:

I'll make another pitch for the Ansco 130 as a good option,

Click to expand...

Yes, and another vote for the 130. It has nice effects with the Ilford RC based papers, but really shines with FB. Photographers Formulary makes some really nice stuff. Their TD-30 and TD-31 are "substitutes" for Dektol & Selectol Soft. Even though I use Dektol for general proofing, and some display, I find the PF chemistries to produce cleaner looking and "sharper" images in both RC & FB.

You may also consider "split-developing" to bring out some additional character in some of your prints. This is done by preparing a tray each of TD-30 and 31, and dividing the development time in each. One must be quick though, and a good deal of nuance can be had by which developer you start with, and how long in each!