Matte papers and lith printing?

matti · Jan 16, 2007

So, for some reason my local photo dealer is selling off graded Forte Bromofort paper. I bought a couple of boxes of matte finnish grade 2 and 3.
My first intention was to develop it in Dektol to get some really cold toned matte sea landscapes etc that I have in my head.

But then I thought about trying to use them for lith printing. Is that possible? I have a vague memory of someone mentioning that matte papers and lith don't work together, but now I can not find what that information came from.

/matti

Travis Nunn · Jan 16, 2007

Tim's article on the Unblinking Eye website probably. He describes Forte Bromofort as "The only full matt paper that Lith prints really successfully. Prone to pepper fog & ‘black dot syndrome’"

Here's the article
http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Lith2/lith2.html

I haven't tried it so I can't give an opinion on it one way or the other.

Ray Heath · Jan 16, 2007

hey matti why not just try it and see for yourself

matti · Jan 16, 2007

Travis, thank you for the link.

Ray, I will try it! I am just not allowed to go down to the darkroom during the weekdays, and got a bit curious

/matti

Travis Nunn · Jan 16, 2007

No problem Matti. Just remember that this article is 3 years old. Tim's updated list (at least at the time of printing) is in his new book. Some of the papers in the article may have changed and others may not be available

timeUnit · Jan 16, 2007

As most Bromide papers I've tried Bromofort is quite slow in lith. Try hot lith for a faster developing time. Also be sure to use a developer without added bromide. I have used EasyLith and developing times were around an hour... With Superlith it's another world: 10-20 minutes. Much faster in hot lith.

matti · Jan 16, 2007

Thanks! I would't get much done without this hint! I think I might be able to source a fish tank heater and I use Maco Superlith.
/matti

timeUnit said:
As most Bromide papers I've tried Bromofort is quite slow in lith. Try hot lith for a faster developing time. Also be sure to use a developer without added bromide. I have used EasyLith and developing times were around an hour... With Superlith it's another world: 10-20 minutes. Much faster in hot lith.

timeUnit · Jan 16, 2007

I just mix the lith developer with hot water and put the developer tray in a bigger tray with hot water. The developer is around 35°C. To be honest I don't pay so much attention to the temp, it seems it changes very little in tone, but offers a great speed increase.

I found bromofort to be quite contrasty, too. Be prepared for long exposures!

timeUnit · Jan 16, 2007

A tip:

Try any matte paper, developed normally, bleached in Sepia A-bath and redeveloped in any lith developer. You can see an example in my gallery. This way you can get Ilford MGIV 5K to lith.

Gay Larson · Jan 16, 2007

I have been using only matt paper and have read the two articles referenced along with Tims book and do not find a reference to glossy paper, can it be used? I still have some forte and Luminos but they are both glossy.

Travis Nunn · Jan 16, 2007

Gay Larson said:
I have been using only matt paper and have read the two articles referenced along with Tims book and do not find a reference to glossy paper, can it be used? I still have some forte and Luminos but they are both glossy.

With the exception of the old Kentmere Art Classic, glossy papers are all that I use for lith.

Gay Larson · Jan 16, 2007

well hooray, I now have lots of paper with which to experiment.

Matte papers and lith printing?

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