No More Slavich Paper From Freestyle

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MaximusM3

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I was afraid of that. I don't think Digitaltruth really stocks much and relies on outside sources to fulfill orders. The problem is obviously at the source (importer) and, considering the sort of grim situation for paper, I doubt that there will be much motivation for someone else to pick up from where Freestyle left off. If they can't make it happen, I don't think anyone else could or would want to. I hope I am wrong because I really love the paper. I did stock up at Freestyle but it is not making me feel any better...and it was an expensive way to go.
 

artonpaper

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I've never tried the Slavic paper, but I mourn the demise of any good paper. Just thought I'd share this formula: Manly Redevelopment Toner for blue black tones. I don't have any examples scanned at the moment. I've gotten very deep cool blacks with Forte Warmtone.

Bleach
Copper sulfate 50.0 g
Sulfuric acid 10% 65.0 ml
Sodium chloride 50.0 g
Water to make 1.0 liter

Developer Solution
Metol 10.0 g
Sodium sulfite (anhyd) 33.0 g
Sodium carbonate (anhyd) 33.0 g
Water to make 1.0 liter

Use the bleach and developer undiluted. I've never saved it, so I'm not sure about its shelf life. Wash well between bleach and redeveloping. And I would definitely contact the manufacturers regarding the Slavic paper.
 

Tom Kershaw

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The Slavich paper I bought about 2 1/2 years ago showed several defects on one pack out of three. I have stuck with other brands since. Another tip: Don't bother with the new version of Oriental Seagull. There were some rumours a while ago of an ILFORD / Harman connection but I don't believe this as the quality is not up to the usual standards.

Tom
 

ridax

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In my tests made a decade ago, I found the bleach could be of any type (copper, dichromate, ferrocianide, etc., etc.), and the print tone was mainly influenced by the 2nd developer. Methol, Amidol, Hidroxilamine (sp?), and FeEDTA give cold tones, and Phenidone, Hidroquinone, Pyro, Catechu (sp?), etc., give warm tones. Also, Bensotriazole is an effective suppresser of the warm-tone, and being added to the solution, gives cold tones even with Hidroquinone. The exact 2nd developer formula may be whatever you want (I even never measure the amounts), as the 2nd development is done in daylight. But: keep the sulfite concentration at a minimum or sulfite would dissolve some of the silver and weaken the image. Besides, it's usually better to make the developer somewhat diluted to have better control (you stop the redevelopment as soon as the tone is right, then rinse and fix your print).

Silver Chloride (as AZO) and Chlorobromide (Fortezo, Bromportrait) papers are more sensitive to the developer variations and readily change tone if you just change the 1st (and only) developer, without any bleaching+redevelopment. Silver Bromide papers (Brovira, Bromofort, Unibrom, etc.) are more stable in tone regardless of the 1st developer formula, but they too readily change the tone when bleached and redeveloped. BTW, that's why this bleach+redevelopment method way invented, as far as I know...

... I used to avoid Slavich papers back in the 1980s with all my hart. IMHO, Slavich used to be the worst photo paper manufacturer in the USSR. But now there is little choice really...
 
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The availability is dependent on the importer bringing it in to the US.

I'm fairly certain that Slavich wants to sell more of their product. And I'm equally certain there are darkroom practitioners who want to buy more of their product. I, too, have several packages of Unibrom 160 in my own darkroom. I originally gave it a try after Freestyle stopped stocking Kentmere Bromide.

Unfortunately the way things are set up in these distribution networks, all it takes is for any single entity crowded into the middle to decide they no longer care, and the deal is off for everyone. The manufacturers must want to make it, the shippers must want to accept it, the carriers must want to move it, the importers must want to import it, and the retailers must want to stock it. And, of course, the users must want to buy and use it.

But if there is only a single broken link anywhere in that chain...

Ken
 

brianmquinn

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If Freestyle is getting out of importing this paper the best alternative I can think of is http://www.ultrafineonline.com
They are a great company and if enough of us ask they may import a trial batch of paper for us. If we buy it they will buy another batch.
 
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I really liked Slavich, despite the occasional defects (I once had a pack with half the sheets marred by diagonal "stripes" of no emulsion...). I'm sorry to see it go, but really like the Adox papers (Nuance graded) and sure hope they stay in stock and deliverable!

Slavich is worth importing and I'm hoping someone else picks it up. I can't imagine that Freestyle is doing this willingly, there must be a problem somewhere in the supply chain that makes it no longer worthwhile for them. Maybe they could chime in here?

Best,

Doremus Scudder
www.DoremusScudder.com
 

VaryaV

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Thankfully, I have never had any defective paper in all the Slavich packs I've used. I don't buy it because it's cheap. My primary paper is Ilford Galerie, which I consider to be the finest paper on the market. I use Slavich because of the rich coldness of the bromide, the matte finish and because I prefer to use graded papers. It's the only one of it's kind. Now, if there was another one like it I would pick it up in a heart beat regardless of the price. I'd eat canned tuna and ramen if I had too.

I can't imagine what is happening but there must be more to it because Freestyle sells stuff that no one else does.

sheesh but this is getting rather sad! I see a lot of young kids getting more and more into analogue so you'd think some of these small runs would be viable to somebody, eh?.
 

artonpaper

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To the best of my knowledge, all the above suggestions are good ones. I like to go by the book, so I've taken a less experimental approach.

Manly has three different bleaches and three different developers that when used in various combination can give sepia, blue black, and even a purple-ish, sort of gold toned look. I used to teach a class where we mixed all the variations and they worked as advertised. Warmtone paper seemed to be the most responsive and Ilford Multigrade, the least. When I have time I'll start a new thread and post those formulas. Me personally, I miss Agfa Multi Contrast Classic.
 

Roger Cole

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Wow, too bad on another front too, albeit maybe cheaper shipping for some items.

The other front is that I "discovered" DT through this thread (I had been to the Massive Development Chart many times but didn't realize a place called "Digital" would sell film, paper etc. - the chart should have been a clue) and was delighted to see they carry *my* favorite paper and show in stock where Freestyle is out, namely Adox MC 110. I love the paper and Freestyle shows no hint of dropping it, but can't seem to keep it in stock, especially in 11x14. As that's the largest size I'm set up to print now and I shoot 4x5, it's my go-to size for display prints.

I hope the fans of Slavich paper arrange another source. I'd love a true cold tone paper but I'm not going back to graded paper unless for some awful reason I must. Modern VC papers are just too good and too convenient (only one needed to stock per size, no two developer trays to split development, burn with a different filter etc.) to go back. Now if they made the Slavich in VC and it were available, I'd certainly try it.
 

VaryaV

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Hey guys.... I just posted the first of my sci-fi images using the Unibrom 160 matte, g2... (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

This paper is so beautiful it sickens me to lose it when I just got started.


Hope I can find something equal to it.
 

VaryaV

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Freestyle still has it stocked. I bought a couple packs of 8x10 matte (100) this morning. It looks like they still have plenty of 100 packs of everything else. But get it while supplies last, I guess.

They are low on:
Matte g4 - 8x10/25
Matte g3 - 11x14/25
Matte g4 - 11x14/25 sheets
Glossy g2 - 8x10/25 sheets

But still have plenty in 100 packs.
 
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I tried sending them an email over a week ago. Still no reply.
 

georg16nik

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No worries, I just shot them an e-mail in russian.
Few months ago, a friend came back from Russia with a box full of paper. He would have mentioned if there are issues.
 
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Well I'm back.
Shipping by sea is now prohibited.
By Air would be very expensive but the real killer is Xray.

Which then begs the obvious question...

How does everyone else do it?

Ken
 

pentaxuser

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Why is shipping by sea prohibited? How does Harman/Ilford or the other makers gets their paper to the U.S?

Does nobody ever fly any paper in or ever fly paper anywhere in the world due to X rays?

I am puzzled

pentaxuser
 

PVia

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This makes no sense at all...as others have said, what about Foma, Ilford, and all the rest? Fuji on the other side, etc...
 
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We ship worldwide by sea and by air if needed ( rarely ) and as a 'designated' photo manufacture have special procedures in place.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology LImited :
 

michaelbsc

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Hi Max,

It's not Freestyle rule. It's new regulation. Making it extremely expensive to ship.

I work tangentally around port areas, and there are is indeed a lot of new regulation coming down that has everyone in a tizzy.

It isn't my deal, so I don't know details. But this explanation certainly fits well with the complaining I hear.

Apparently there are different restrictions for different points of origin. The Slavic paper probably ships from a point that's less controlled than the Ilford paper.
 
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