Need some advice............Graded RC paper?

Can anyone think of a black-and-white paper manufacturer that does NOT make a graded paper? The materials exist all over the place, but perhaps your chosen reseller would have to order them.

MartinP said:

Can anyone think of a black-and-white paper manufacturer that does NOT make a graded paper? The materials exist all over the place, but perhaps your chosen reseller would have to order them.

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Yes, I know it's out there, but I was just wondering which brand would be a good economical starter for them. The Kentmere paper does sound like a good starter for the money and I can order that from B&H. I've got some time to decide and will think it over before I jump. JW

I remember working for an old photographer and he used only graded paper. He went to Brooks and he said real photographers build their negative for a certain grade of paper. When only graded paper is available, I would think a photographer would have to think carefully about exposure and development so it is of value. I use only VC paper because there are so many advantages to using it including split grade printing and 1/2 grade adjustments.

I should have been clearer. It is RC graded paper you are after, not an esoteric warmtone material. Just get what is available, fresh and repeatable (in case you want to do it again). The value of these pictures is in the learning and being good-enough. Also important is proper processing, so that the youngsters can look back in ten years and say their first prints "are as good as the day they were made".

Edit. Don't forget that graded paper is also ideal for pinhole camera use

(Edit. Don't forget that graded paper is also ideal for pinhole camera use [/QUOTE])

Oh yes, we'll being doing some of that pinhole stuff also. I want them to see just how simple things can be sometimes. We live in a world where we think or have been told, that we have to always have the best equipment money can buy or our results just won't be good enough. A couple of my G-kids think that way right now! JW

Mainecoonmaniac said:

I remember working for an old photographer and he used only graded paper. He went to Brooks and he said real photographers build their negative for a certain grade of paper. When only graded paper is available, I would think a photographer would have to think carefully about exposure and development so it is of value. I use only VC paper because there are so many advantages to using it including split grade printing and 1/2 grade adjustments.

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I totally agree but half grades are easy to get with graded papers. Have a tray of hard developer, say Dektol maybe less diluted than usual, and one of Selectol Soft (Freestyle sells their Legacy Pro brand equivalent) and split development time between them to tweak contest.

VC is certainly easier but it can be done with graded.


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