No More Slavich Paper From Freestyle

Koller01 · Jan 23, 2015

I just ordered Slavich Unibrom grade 4 in 11x14 25 sheets double weight matte finish from B&H. It seems they now supply this paper. It said it was shipped direct from the manufacturer. However the shipping said from Wyoming not Russia. Any way I am excited to try this out for Lith. I have always wanted to but never did when Freestyle carried it and it seemed a bit difficult to source for awhile. Prices are very reasonable as well!

Peter Schrager · Jan 23, 2015

slavich is awesome paper almost rivals lodima in many ways..please give this a try!
best,peter

Zathras · Jan 23, 2015

Peter Schrager said:
slavich is awesome paper almost rivals lodima in many ways..please give this a try!
best,peter

Peter,

I have heard that Slavich Unibrom is a bit like Agfa Brovira. What do you think? I've always wanted to try this stuff out, glad to see that it is available again.

Thanks...

Mike Sullivan

Roger Cole · Jan 23, 2015

What is the "BP" shown in the listings for this paper? My first thought was it had something to do with weight but the SW is listed as 160 BP while some of the double weight is also listed as 160 BP while some is 80 BP.

What am I missing here?

Ken Nadvornick · Jan 24, 2015

I think the "BP" identifies it as "Bromide Paper". Their Bromportrait paper carries the same designation. I believe these may be the last true bromide papers on the market, now that the Kentmere Bromide has (I think) been discontinued by Harman?

I've used the Unibrom paper a little. Still have some of all three grades in my darkroom. Used Ansco 130 developer and selenium toning. I thought it looked really nice.

But it did seem noticeably higher in contrast per grade than I was used to. More like 3, 4, and 5 instead of 2, 3, and 4. I just diluted the 130 more.

The current ISO range numbers say this shouldn't be the case, at least when compare to the Ilford Gallerie data sheet, which still lists all four grades, but that was my impression.

As I recall it does require a deep red safelight. I use 635 nm LEDs filtered through Rubylith.

[Edit: See post #82 on the next page...]

Ken

Roger Cole · Jan 24, 2015

Odd that a graded paper would need a red safelight. Historically they've been much less sensitive to safelight choice being only blue sensitive.

But if BP means "bromide paper" what's the difference between 80 BP and 160 BP? That's my question.

Ken Nadvornick · Jan 24, 2015

Roger Cole said:
But if BP means "bromide paper"...

Hmm. I may be wrong about that meaning. Here's their product web page (in pretty good English):

Unibrom and Bromportrait photographic papers

If I am reading correctly between the lines in the above link, "BP" may instead refer to a baryta based paper and "PE" to a resin coated paper? They don't directly mention a preferred safelight color.

[Edit: Another thing I notice is that the sheet sizes described at B&H are the standard inch sizes (8x10, 11x14, etc.) whereas this Slavich price page for their own web ordering shows the standard metric sizes. Not sure how that works...]

Ken

Ko.Fe. · Jan 24, 2015

Roger Cole said:
Odd that a graded paper would need a red safelight. Historically they've been much less sensitive to safelight choice being only blue sensitive.

But if BP means "bromide paper" what's the difference between 80 BP and 160 BP? That's my question.

Sorry, I'm not printing expert, but read and understand Russian.
So, according to original site in Russian, BP is barite base.

160 is neutral b/w, three contrast grades. They describe it as universal.
80 is warm tone, black and brown, two contrast grades. They describe it as good one for the portraits.

Roger Cole · Jan 24, 2015

Ah ok thanks!

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No More Slavich Paper From Freestyle

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