Matt surface silver gelatin paper toning and other recommendations

[jamie young]

Hi I just lucked into about 150 pounds of agfa classic 118 paper (4 x50" by 100 foot rolls). I've never used this paper and haven't done much with matt paper and have heard there are some great toning techniques for matt paper. Any other recommendations or advice for this paper? Thanks! Jamie Young

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Jamie,

That was my favorite paper back when it was manufactured. The surface is like pearly, not entirely matte, so there's a slight sheen to it.

It tones very beautifully. I've used it with sepia and selenium toners. It reacts well to just selenium, and acquires a brown/maroon tone if left in the soup for long. Kodak Sepia II is the warmer of the sepia toners, and makes very warm highlights with this paper if partially bleached back (I use very dilute bleach). A combination of light sepia and then selenium gives a very warm print.

The paper in itself is slightly warm as it is. The paper base has a bit of a cream tone to it. It isn't pure white like Brovira was. Hopefully your paper is still in good shape! It's been about ten years since they stopped making it now.

Good luck with it, Jamie!

 

[jamie young]

Thanks Thomas. I got it for the price of shipping. Less that a dollar a pound. It was in a very large freezer-at least I was told. I'll test soon but am guessing it will be just fine. I'll going to cut at least some of it up for cirkut printing

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear Jamie,

Hopefully it will be absolutely fine but its many years since it was coated, so you will obviously need to do a test to ensure its not fogged. Secondly these are photofinisher rolls so they will have acquired 'memory curl' and may be a little challenging to process and flatten, especially as you get toward the core.

Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[Andrew Moxom]

Jamie, the m118 paper is awesome, it is the same emulsion as the famous Mcc 111, and almost the identical surface as Foma 123 variant paper. It tones beautifully. Especially when split toned. Dilute bleach ie kodak sepia II or equivalent legacy-pro kit. Mix as indicated, then dilute the bleach from stock down further 1:6. I bleach this paper for about 30 seconds in the diluted bleach to cut back the highlights. I then wash for 5 minutes, and place in the sulphide toner for a minute or 2.... Rinse/wash for another 5 minutes, then finish in selenium toner to add some oomph into the blacks. Do not leave in the selenium for too long or it will go too red. I use the selenium purely to get depth in the blacks. It will go a slightly warmer tone overall too.... Wash for 5 minutes, ...hypo clear, and wash for 40 minutes and dry.