No More Slavich Paper From Freestyle

pentaxuser · Nov 10, 2011

So it is expensive but not prohibited. Freestyle via Ilford/Harman can presumably do it less expensively than Freestyle via Slavich or so Simon Galley has to hope for the future .

Slavich as far as I know still exports to the rest of Europe including the U.K. We in the U.K. must trust Slavich's shipping point more or maybe it is all transported via the Channel Tunnel.

Not a problem for me but I still think that the basic reason hasn't yet been "drilled down to".

I always thought that shipping via ships wasn't a problem terrorist-wise. and if it isnt bombs then what else is it and what has brought about new restrictions

It's normally only the "silver birds" that give concerns of that nature

pentaxuser

djkloss · Nov 17, 2011

About an hour or two ago I ordered my first two boxes of grade #2 from Freestyle so I could try Bromoil. Two hours later I read this post. Un-F*ng believable! So what else is left?

Ken Nadvornick · Nov 17, 2011

Well it seems Slavich paper is still left. Just that nobody can figure out why Freestyle says it's too expensive to import. Given Kodak's dire straights we're now importing all of our b&w photo paper from overseas. So what gives with Slavich? Or Freestyle? Or both?

Simon can do it.*

(Not saying there's not a good explanation. Just wondering what it is...)

Ken

* Well, Harman can. I don't think Mr. Galley himself trudges to post office every morning with pallets of shipping crates in tow...

zsas · Jan 18, 2012

holmburgers said:
Could you find another distributor?

There is a place called Laser Reflections in Poulsbo, WA that sells Slavich holography plates. Perhaps they could be enticed.

BREAKING NEWS.....

I contacted Laser Reflections and spoke to Bernadette who said they can import to the US Slavich photo paper!!! Give them a call/email to discuss what you would need and they can work to get it in their routine holographic order:

Laser Reflections

WOOO HOOOO!!!!!!!! Thanks Holmburgers for the tip too! Bromide paper lives on in the States.....

John Austin · Jan 18, 2012

Ilford Galerie grade 2

I have had a hundred sheets of 16x20" grade 2 Ilford Galerie brought in by Rae for more printing of my English Littoral portfolio

Ilford are running this stock out, but I was informed they will gladly restart if sufficient quantities are ordered - Perhaps Simon can comment on this possibility - I love/loved Ilford Galerie graded paper for for its subtle dove-grey mid tones

thefizz · Jan 19, 2012

Slavich Unibrom grade 3 availale here: www.thephotoshop.ie

keithwms · Jan 19, 2012

I was able to get a pretty big batch of Slavich from freestyle just now. Just call and ask what they have left.

Great stuff indeed, I am stockpiling quite a lot of double weight matte grade 3.

Simon R Galley · Jan 19, 2012

Jba Photo

No we are not running out this stock, GALERIE grade 2 and 3 are part of the range, we do not drop anything from the product line as is.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

holmburgers · Jan 19, 2012

zsas, wow, that's awesome! Thanks to you for following up on the tip; you did the necessary leg work.

They should be nice to deal with and I suspect that if they could become the sole or primary US importer of Slavich, they might introduce a substantial segment of business for themselves, at least, that'd be nice.

Is Freestyle still importing it, or do they just happen to have some remaining stock?

zsas · Jan 19, 2012

I was told by Freestyle that when stock is gone, it is the end.

I emailed Slavich who also confirmed the ending of the importation of Slavich via Freestyle

BUT Laser Reflections can still get it, spoke to them yesterday!!!!! Woo hoo!! Give them a call email to discuss, very nice folks!

artonpaper · Jan 19, 2012

Quick note about Gallerie. During my years of lab printing we used primarily Multigrade fiber and RC. Every once in a while we'd get specific requests for Gallerie. I was always impressed with the image quality, the matte surface seemed less veiled. Also the paper stock itself, it didn't curl as much.

VaryaV · Jan 24, 2012

Fortunately, I was able to buy 10 boxes of 8x10 matte from Freestyle and hoard it. Great to know it can still be had elsewhere. I absolutely love this paper for certain looks.

Simon R Galley said:
Jba Photo

No we are not running out this stock, GALERIE grade 2 and 3 are part of the range, we do not drop anything from the product line as is.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Now Simon, if Ilford EVER stops production on Galerie paper (both g2 and g3) I am going to have to stage a 'sit-in.' Then I will know, the world is truly coming to an end as I know it... drastic measures will have to be sought.

I'm not kidding... it's my main paper and the creme de la creme of papers.

Roger Cole · Jan 24, 2012

Looks like Freestyle does not have the matte finish any longer, but does have glossy. Maybe the matte has been discontinued? Simon didn't mention surface finish.

Thomas Bertilsson · Jan 24, 2012

Roger Cole said:
Looks like Freestyle does not have the matte finish any longer, but does have glossy. Maybe the matte has been discontinued? Simon didn't mention surface finish.

Ilford Galerie is glossy only.

Years ago Ilford had their 'Ilfobrom' paper available in surfaces such as stipple, but not these days. I have a couple of envelopes of the stuff on my shelf. Some day I'll try it out to see if it's still any good.

Roger Cole · Jan 24, 2012

Thomas Bertilsson said:
Ilford Galerie is glossy only.

Years ago Ilford had their 'Ilfobrom' paper available in surfaces such as stipple, but not these days. I have a couple of envelopes of the stuff on my shelf. Some day I'll try it out to see if it's still any good.

Ah, I see - VaryaV jumped from talking about Slavich (in matte, and before quoting Simon) to Gallerie after quoting Simon. Lost me for a minute there.

Helinophoto · Jan 26, 2012

Hmm, freestyle seem to still list Slavich papers on their site:
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_search.php?q=paper&rfnc=504&mfg=233&catsel=all&

Has anyone tried ordering from them lately? I just printed some landscapes on Bromportrait and it came out wonderful, love the surface texture of that paper.

MaximusM3 · Jan 26, 2012

Helinophoto said:
Hmm, freestyle seem to still list Slavich papers on their site:
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_search.php?q=paper&rfnc=504&mfg=233&catsel=all&

Has anyone tried ordering from them lately? I just printed some landscapes on Bromportrait and it came out wonderful, love the surface texture of that paper.

They are still shipping whatever stock they have left. If they list it, they have some, and if if they are low on stock, it will say so. For whatever is worth, I have contacted Slavich directly and received a couple of responses. Prices are good but shipping to the US would amount to about $25 per box of 25 sheets double weight, 11x14. If there are import duties on top of that, it may put the cost of a box at more than double what Freestyle is selling now and that's a deal killer. Unfortunately, so far it doesn't look good for Slavich in the US, and I sincerely doubt anyone else would step in and import here.

holmburgers · Jan 26, 2012

MaximusM3 said:
Unfortunately, so far it doesn't look good for Slavich in the US, and I sincerely doubt anyone else would step in and import here.

Are you seeing the above comments about Laser Reflections?? They're already an importer for Slavich holographic plates, and as zsas discovered, they're willing to import the paper.

Quit moping y'all and give them a call!...

AASTUDIOS · Mar 31, 2012

Now that Freestyle has stopped distribution, we have arranged to import Slavich papers for our shop (thevintagephotoshop.com). Tell us what you want and we will order it. We will order 1-2 times a year, or as needed. Our next order goes in this coming week so let us know ASAP if you want something particular. We will carry all Slavich types, but not all the available sizes. Contact: 312.278.1144 or info@aastudioschicago.com

AASTUDIOS · Mar 31, 2012

Ps. Forgot to mention. We have been importing specialty paper from Slavich for 2 years now. It comes via Air. No problem at all! Customs, brokerage fees and shipping are not cheap, but there are no import restrictions on Russian photo papers. Shipping chemistry about the globe is a different story all together.

imush · Nov 29, 2012

I am thinking of combining a shipment from Slavich if there is enough demand. I even have a base in Moscow (my sister's house), in case direct shipping is not economically feasible we could try send small batches with friends and family.

They would consider cutting it to our more familiar sizes (8x10 or 11x14) if the order is large enough, so the paper is easier to position in our easels. But for the beginning we would probably have to deal with their market's sizes.

The goods list: It seems Slavich (http://www.tdslavich.ru) has no English catalogue, but basically they have two types of paper: Unibrom and Bromportrait-80 (there is also one called Berezka, but I have no idea what its qualities are). Their many sizes are in cm (9x12,10x15,13x18,18x18,18x24,24x24,24x30,30x30,30x40,...) Unibrom is a cold toned paper, Bromportrait is warmish.

The surfaces for Unibrom are glossy or matte; for Bromportrait we have matte, glossy, and glossy "silk embossed" (my portrait favourite, a very nice textured surface).

Contrast grades 2,3,4 (Russians call these semisoft, normal and contrasty, but they roughly correspond to the Ilford grades 2-4).

smaragd · Jan 23, 2013

Now you can see here www.newslavich.com.. site is filled

djkloss · Jan 23, 2013

smaragd said:
Now you can see here www.newslavich.com.. site is filled

thanks,
I use this for bromoil.

vpwphoto · Mar 21, 2013

I haven't dug too deep here... but if we can buy old Fed and Zorki cameras from "nobody people" successfully on e-bay from the old USSR. Has or why hasn't anyone bought directly from the factory?
I run a shop, I'd be willing to do a $1000 order if some of you actually intend to buy some.

zsas · Mar 21, 2013

I asked the Slavich factory and they quoted the paper cost pretty cheap but shipping was through the roof high, they said $400-$500+.

With that said, I have begun to order Unibrom from Laser Refections, in WA. I hope to get my order in a few weeks.
See below, Bernadette has a price list on their site too

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

No More Slavich Paper From Freestyle

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