New Ilford Multigrade RC Portfolio

[laingsoft]

Product announcement here: https://www.ilfordphoto.com/new-product-announcement-multigrade-rc-portfolio/

 

[AgX]

It is great to see improvements in papers these days!





As a side note on a topic of least importance:
What I do not understand at all is their advise concerning their cancellation of postcards backprints. How do they expect to print such oneself as advised?

 

[BGriffin23]

It is great to see improvements in papers these days!
As a side note on a topic of least importance:
What I do not understand at all is their advise concerning their cancellation of postcards backprints. How do they expect to print such oneself as advised?

I assume you print the picture on one side and when it is dry run it through your inkjet printer for the postcard back.

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

I'm waiting on a machine processor so this will be absolutely great for me!

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

Although slid into this announcement is that they're killing off the postcard backing paper. While it's true you can still just send one in the mail, I loved that postcard paper.

 

[pentaxuser]

With hindsight the new paper announcement that we were all waiting for had to be this. Ilford was bound to apply the new emulsion to its Portfolio paper as soon as it was able. Only a Pearl surface at the moment and seemingly in a very limited range of sizes as things stand. However i don't think it will be long before a full range is available. Pity about the postcard backing no longer being built in but there is the template and I cannot think it will be long before some enterprising retailer is offering packs of backing sheets where you peel away the cover and simply stick to the back of the portfolio paper

pentaxuser

 

[MattKing]

I already use laser printed labels for the back of my (middle weight) 4x6 RC postcards. Having a double weight stock would be nicer.
Don't try to print inkjet directly on to the back of RC paper, unless you can find an ink that won't smear after being applied to plastic.
The Portfolio papers are very nice to work with, so it is good to see them updated.

 

[BGriffin23]

Don't try to print inkjet directly on to the back of RC paper, unless you can find an ink that won't smear after being applied to plastic.

I have noticed this when annotating the back of my prints.

 

[cmacd123]

Don't try to print inkjet directly on to the back of RC paper, unless you can find an ink that won't smear after being applied to plastic.
.

which might have something to do with the dropping of Pre-printed postcard forms.

 

[pentaxuser]

I watched a video yesterday of the new paper and some prints by a regular YouTube video maker based in the U.K. . Clearly Ilford had sent him a pack of paper in advance and in return he gave his thoughts on the paper. As an aside it is clear to me that Ilford sees the more popular YouTube video makers as important to it. In respect of getting the message out there I don't think Ilford or indeed any of the players see the future in forums

Anyway back to the main subject he went on to say that it was thick enough to resemble and sound like a wobble board and he demonstrated For a paper to have that kind of flexibility and not have any damage it has to be good. After wobbling it vigorously it still looked as good as new. The induced stress had not made any difference to it

Given its weight and the benefits of being RC I wonder if some FBers will change to this new Portfolio paper. Once its available in all sizes and surfaces one wonders if blindfolded anyone could feel the difference between it and FB and then pick out it out from identical prints on FB?

The weight still seems to be listed at 250 as was the previous Portfolio, although I think I recalled someone mentioning that it was heavier. Anyone know how nee Portfolio compares in weight to the FB range of weights?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[mnemosyne]

RC portfolio is not new, in fact it has been around for years. The "new" is that is has been updated with the MGV emulsion, which was to be expected sooner or later. The problem with MGIV Portfolio at least here in Germany is that it was really hard to find a shop that acutally sold it. It was mostly a special order item and then it was priced higher than MG FB which itself is not actually cheap over here to begin with.

 

[halfaman]

The samples I saw recently with this paper impressed me a lot. I haven't print much B/W, color is my thing, but it was mostly done in Ilford RCIV. So I know more or less what Ilford was delivering until now. The new RC Portfolio feels so much better than RCIV that it seems a completely different paper to me. If nobody told me in advance what it was I would have thought it was a FB paper.

 

[radiant]

RC portfolio is not new, in fact it has been around for years. The "new" is that is has been updated with the MGV emulsion, which was to be expected sooner or later. The problem with MGIV Portfolio at least here in Germany is that it was really hard to find a shop that acutally sold it. It was mostly a special order item and then it was priced higher than MG FB which itself is not actually cheap over here to begin with.

Let's hope Ilford gets the price right! I'm totally interested but maybe willing to pay 20-30% more maximum.

The new RC Portfolio feels so much better than RCIV that it seems a completely different paper to me. If nobody told me in advance what it was I would have thought it was a FB paper.

Wow! Where did you get hands on this paper?

RC V paper was available at https://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/ pretty soon after the release, but no sign of the paper there yet. I think Ilford looses the hype as they haven't provided it to dealers pre-handed. They should have made some "sample" kits available, like 5-10 sheets for testing..

If the only difference between FB & RC is the paper weight, I don't understand why people print on FB. Just glue the RC paper on backing paper and you shouldn't notice the difference at all?

 

[halfaman]

Wow! Where did you get hands on this paper?

I have on my hands the prints from one of the persons that has tested it. .

If the only difference between FB & RC is the paper weight, I don't understand why people print on FB. Just glue the RC paper on backing paper and you shouldn't notice the difference at all?

Ilford RCIV shadows are "thin" compared to FB, so prints look more "flat". This is something that is greatly improved in the samples I saw of new RC Portfolio, I don't know if this is also the case of RCV. The double weight adds also FB "feel" when having the paper on your hands.

 

[R.Gould]

I won't comment upon how good the Portfolio 5 is as it doesn't seem to be for sale anywhere over here, I have trawled all the major suppliers and nothing, but having printed on FB Classic for many years, the new RC muiltigrade 5 is a revelation, it is as close to FB in looks that, apart from the weight, I find that I don,t need to print on FB, for special prints I will use it,but mounted there appears very litle, if any, difference, so hopefully the portfolio, on a double weight base, will be perfect, if I can ever get it

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Any new paper on the market is a good thing, I think. I'll check to see if my local shop will bring some in...

 

[pentaxuser]

Is is simply a case of having to be patient for maybe a few more weeks given how things are at the moment but while I am not given to predictions ( well , only gloomy ones occasionally ) I do predict that it will come as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow

pentaxuser

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Is is simply a case of having to be patient for maybe a few more weeks given how things are at the moment but while I am not given to predictions ( well , only gloomy ones occasionally ) I do predict that it will come as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow

pentaxuser

We don't get much sun out here on the Canadian Wet Coast this time of year, sigh....

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

I usually (used to) back Ilford, a nice brand that was widely used in Italy since my infancy, and I'm sorry when I see them make so many bad mistakes all in a row.

Closing the production of postcard paper is very sad news. It was so amusing and with such a sense of tradition that went back in time. Of course nobody will ever print the postcard layout on the back at home as they suggest - it was so stupid on their side to even propose to people to do so. As a loyal Postacard paper user I feel almost offended by such silly suggestion. What a pity. I will miss Postcard paper so much.

Seeing them promoting these products off forums, and this forum features a *huge* amount of regular photographers, is also such a bad move. It may give them some extra sales at first, then followed by a looooong decline. How good was it when Simon Galley was on board on this forum, and how helpful he has been on many many occasions. What a wrong move.

Last but perhaps not least, production will begin with "pearl" type paper. While this will make the joy of the few pearl paper users, it had to be the *last* - if ever - variant to be deployed on the market. But perhaps they saw some hipsters on tiktok missing pearl paper, who knows?

My oh my, are these bad news!

 

[laingsoft]

I usually (used to) back Ilford, a nice brand that was widely used in Italy since my infancy, and I'm sorry when I see them make so many bad mistakes all in a row.

Closing the production of postcard paper is very sad news. It was so amusing and with such a sense of tradition that went back in time. Of course nobody will ever print the postcard layout on the back at home as they suggest - it was so stupid on their side to even propose to people to do so. As a loyal Postacard paper user I feel almost offended by such silly suggestion. What a pity. I will miss Postcard paper so much.

Seeing them promoting these products off forums, and this forum features a *huge* amount of regular photographers, is also such a bad move. It may give them some extra sales at first, then followed by a looooong decline. How good was it when Simon Galley was on board on this forum, and how helpful he has been on many many occasions. What a wrong move.

Last but perhaps not least, production will begin with "pearl" type paper. While this will make the joy of the few pearl paper users, it had to be the *last* - if ever - variant to be deployed on the market. But perhaps they saw some hipsters on tiktok missing pearl paper, who knows?

My oh my, are these bad news!

It always blows my mind how people are capable of spinning a new product into a "sky is falling" message.

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

But this is not by any means a "new" product. It is a product which has been on their lines for no less than 25 years, possibly more. Since the available assortment is being shrinked, with some "signature" products like Postcard paper killed, then where's the "spinning new" as you said?

 

[AgX]

I am surprised by the postcard version being such a topic, I do not even remember it existing "back then".
Concerning the importance of this forum I consider it hard to evaluate. But at least the industry and young folks typically pass it.

 

[wyofilm]

It is a product which has been on their lines for no less than 25 years, possibly more.

I'm confused. Your are saying their new emulsion has been commercially available for more than 25 years? Which paper used it?

 

[removedacct1]

Last but perhaps not least, production will begin with "pearl" type paper. While this will make the joy of the few pearl paper users, it had to be the *last* - if ever - variant to be deployed on the market. But perhaps they saw some hipsters on tiktok missing pearl paper, who knows?

My oh my, are these bad news!

Could you please try to be a little bit less optimistic. Your enthusiasm is killing my ennui!

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...the importance of this forum...

Now there's an interesting phrase. Yes, I took it out of context, and my following comment might not be connected to AgX's intent when using that phrase. Nonetheless, in my opinion, it sums up perfectly the misunderstanding of those who believe members of this forum are in any way critical to silver halide photography supplies manufacturers.

"Social media" are the communication mechanisms by which chemical photography manufacturers connect with the vast majority of their customers. PHOTRIO, nee APUG, represents a small blip in the market. In general, we here are older, experienced and, how shall I put this, a demographic that actuarial tables indicate will shrink substantially over time, i.e. not be a path toward growth. Reality sucks, but it's real.

HARMAN and other darkroom product manufacturers know that, for the bulk of their customers, sending a physical postcard is something they've never done and are not likely to do in the future. Rather than whine/whinge about lack of 4x6 Multigrade RC Portfolio postcard back printing, those who lament its disappearance ought instead be grateful that heavier-weight paper in this size is offered at all. HARMAN's including it is, in fact, a courtesy to one tiny segment of its customer base.