Newbie question #1: Ilford MG FB glossy vs matte

ymc226 · May 5, 2009

I need to fill up 2 walls in my living room with pictures. Just ordered Ilford Multigrade fiber based matte paper but have some Ilford MG FB glossy paper left over that I want to use for "practice" exposures. If I get the exposure I am happy with using the glossy, can I use the same time/contrast settinigs on the matte to get the same results?

Anscojohn · May 5, 2009

Lawrence Chai said:
I need to fill up 2 walls in my living room with pictures. Just ordered Ilford Multigrade fiber based matte paper but have some Ilford MG FB glossy paper left over that I want to use for "practice" exposures. If I get the exposure I am happy with using the glossy, can I use the same time/contrast settinigs on the matte to get the same results?

*****
No.

Ian Grant · May 5, 2009

Anscojohn said:
*****
No.

While the answers "No" it will give you valuable experience and practice.

Ian

dejnekas · May 5, 2009

Lawrence Chai said:
I need to fill up 2 walls in my living room with pictures. Just ordered Ilford Multigrade fiber based matte paper but have some Ilford MG FB glossy paper left over that I want to use for "practice" exposures. If I get the exposure I am happy with using the glossy, can I use the same time/contrast settinigs on the matte to get the same results?

Hi,
no those two papers can't be exposed using the same time. Both are different so you should make a test stripes to obtain a proper time for an exposure.

regards,
Slawek

fschifano · May 5, 2009

Another "no." You can't even count on the same paper but from different batch numbers to be the same. I've seen different batches of the same paper vary by as much as 1/3 stop. Start with the same emulsion on a different substrate and now there are two variables that have changed. You'll need to test. There's no way around it.

m_allard · May 5, 2009

The upside is that you might get a good general idea of how you want to print those particular negatives. Then you can translate that experience to the new paper.

ymc226 · May 5, 2009

Thanks for the replies. Thought it was too good to be true.

sperera · May 7, 2009

as I mentioned in my own thread I did some printing again after a 20 year gap and tried some different papers and the reason why you have to test for each paper is that paper, like film, has its own 'speed'.....so no two papers will ever be alike.....well, non have been in my experience anyway.....

Removed Account · May 7, 2009

I should warn you that the Multigrade Fiber Base (not Warmtone) Matte is very, very matte... it's matte to the point where I had difficulty telling which side was the emulsion! In case you don't know, with FB the paper will always (AFAIK) curl towards the emulsion wide. I wish I knew that when I used this paper!

Jerevan · May 8, 2009

Justin Silber said:
I should warn you that the Multigrade Fiber Base (not Warmtone) Matte is very, very matte... it's matte to the point where I had difficulty telling which side was the emulsion! In case you don't know, with FB the paper will always (AFAIK) curl towards the emulsion wide. I wish I knew that when I used this paper!

Yep. Tell me about it. I wasted three whole sheets and a litre of good developer before I could figure it out what was going on. But hey, it's a wonderful paper, although I remember it being a whole lot less white when I last used it.

Dietmar Wolf · May 8, 2009

But the time will be not much different, I guess.

Shangheye · May 8, 2009

Justin Silber said:
I should warn you that the Multigrade Fiber Base (not Warmtone) Matte is very, very matte... it's matte to the point where I had difficulty telling which side was the emulsion! In case you don't know, with FB the paper will always (AFAIK) curl towards the emulsion wide. I wish I knew that when I used this paper!

Glad to know I was not the only one with that experience...I was just too ashamed to admit running so many prints before working out the problem

Newbie question #1: Ilford MG FB glossy vs matte

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