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New Direct Positive paper from Ilford Harman

Looks cool, especially neat is that they offer pre-cut sheets in standard negative sizes like 4x5 and 5x7.

But can this really only be bought in the UK?? (webshop of Harman seems to limit itself to shipment within the UK?)
 
Thanks for the suggestion on pre-exposure. Now if we can find a way to get the paper without too much complication in the U.S....
 
RalphLambrecht said:
you need to pre-expose (fog) the paper first. I suggest an in-camera Zone II or III pre-exposure with a diffuse filter,
Click to expand...

Is that an exposure producing a (near) black or very dark grey, if this would have been a negative paper?
Or one that is 2 to 3 stops underexposed?
 
RalphLambrecht said:
Apparently, the paper can be ordered, and is shipped world-wide, from this new website:

http://www.harmanexpress.com/prods/18/HARMAN-DIRECT-POSITIVE-PAPER.htm

International distribution channels are not set up yet.
Click to expand...

NOPE, look at the Delivery Options page:

Please note that we currently offer a UK delivery service only. If you are visiting our website from outside the UK and have any comments or questions, please click here to contact us.

Also, when you choose "Check Out", there is no country option whatsoever to be seen...

Sorry, it would have been nice...

Marco
 
I would have no fears that it will be confined to the U.K. It just wouldn't make sense. However I am equally sure that until distribution is in place and lford is sure of it working properly then it will not be launched elsewhere. Better not to risk customer frustration and disappointment by announcing European/ U.S./Worldwide distribution until you are sure that it will go smoothly.


pentaxuser
 
Elite Chrome 100 on the Efke/Ilford reversal paper.
 

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Marco B said:
But can this really only be bought in the UK?? (webshop of Harman seems to limit itself to shipment within the UK?)
Click to expand...

Dead Link Removed
(see: "Krauss Silber Gelatine Papier")

I guess though that is still the Ilford Imaging / Fotokemika run.
 
For anyone who is interested, some types of the Fotokemika Efke Positive paper (RC matte in all sizes, and RC glossy in 8x10 only, no FB) are still in the Freestyle catalog (page 13), and for about half the price of the paper at Harman direct ($26 for 10 sheets of 11x14 as opposed to £22, not to mention shipping differences).
 
According to Freestyle when speaking with them on the phone, they have said that the Fotokemika Efke is discontinued.
 
Ektagraphic said:
According to Freestyle when speaking with them on the phone, they have said that the Fotokemika Efke is discontinued.
Click to expand...

This does not mean that the remaining stocks are not owned by Freestyle, or that they are not for sale! They are right there in the catalog, on page 13.
 
And it still shows up on the web site.
 
Well, I did an extensive series of tests today using the Efke direct positive, matte finish paper.

I had done some tests last year, enough to know that this paper requires a significantly greater amount of preflash than what I normally give to conventional paper negatives to control contrast. As a comparison, my normal paper negative preflash time is around 8 seconds of light using my specially-built lighting source in my darkroom; the Efke paper requires 28 seconds.

Today's tests were done also to confirm a good working exposure index, which for my process and equipment ended up being at 1.6. I discovered that this paper exhibits some very frustrating tendencies of reciprocity failure, even within exposure times that film (and certainly conventional printing paper) would have no issues with. For instance, I did two exposures, one at f/22 and 2 seconds, the other at f/5.6 and 1/10 second, both should have given the same density since they're equivalent exposures on my meter; the results varied widely. In comparison, I've used normal printing paper in both pinhole and glass lensed cameras and have not seen significant reciprocity failure from exposure times as little as hundredths of a second to upwards of 5 minutes or longer. This Efke paper is a different breed entirely.

This led me to the principle of keeping the preflash and in-camera exposure times constant, and varying the subject's lighting and the f-stop in order to arrive at the correct metered exposure. I bottomed out on a 1-second exposure in the camera, accompanied by the 28 second preflash in the darkroom, and varied the Speed Graphic's Ektar lens aperture to adjust exposure according to the handheld meter's recommendation at EI=1.6.

Even so, minute variations in exposure time result in visible differences in print density. But my results point to being able to use this paper and achieve almost normal contrast images. I say "almost" because the d-max of the paper appears to be not nearly as dense as what I'm used to with fine printing papers.

I'm hoping to eventually try out the Harman paper and see if it performs significantly better. At least we would have the option of a fiber based paper.

I'll get some sample images from my series of tests posted soon.

~Joe
 
Somewhat OT and not directly related to the subject (direct positive paper), but through this thread I found out about Susanna Kraus and her IMAGO camera. Awesome! Here's a Youtube link (in German, but still fascinating!).
And another one - with more details about the camera, etc...
 
Last edited by a moderator:

She will be at Photokina in Cologne this year. You should come.
 
Joe VanCleave said:
...this paper requires a significantly greater amount of preflash than what I normally give to conventional paper negatives to control contrast...
Click to expand...

Have you ever tried to control the contrast of paper negatives with a yellow filter and weak developer? That's how I make my paper negatives on Ilford MGIV with great success. I don't use a pre-flash for paper negatives at all and still get a negative contrast range of about 1.2, which is equivalent of a normal film negative. This doesn't work for Ilford's direct-positive paper by the way.
 

Absolutely fascinating Denis, thanks for sharing!

I have added the YouTube Video's on the APUG Video section.

Marco
 
thanks for the link to the you tube video!
she must have a special "blue-light"
the strobe and intensity of the light
is really miniscule ...
 
I hate to make you chaps jealous, but Ilford has just contacted me to say that I'll be getting some samples shortly.

I'll let you know what I think ASAP...

Regards
Jerry
 
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