Old Noob Questions About RC vs FB Paper

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
51,973
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
I use Kodak Sepia II toner on the RC papers, which makes up into two solutions - bleach and toner. I use the bleach component for all bleaching purposes.

I am currently using Berg Selenium toner. In the past, I've used the Kodak version of Selenium toner with success. The next to try is the Ilford Selenium toner that is on the shelf downstairs in my storage area .
 

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
19,625
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm
If you want to combine the convenience of RC with the weight of FB you can buy Ilford RC Portfolio. Just be prepared to pay a little extra for the weight.

pentaxuser
 

brian steinberger

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 5, 2007
Messages
2,987
Location
Pennsylvania
Format
Med. Format RF
pentaxuser said:
If you want to combine the convenience of RC with the weight of FB you can buy Ilford RC Portfolio. Just be prepared to pay a little extra for the weight.

pentaxuser
Click to expand...

I have been tempted to try this. How is it in 11x14? My problem with RC has always been how cheesy it feels in larger sizes. I love 5x7 and 8x10, but above that, not.
 

eddie

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
3,258
Location
Northern Vir
Format
Multi Format
I'm one of those people who only uses RC for contact sheets. I think if an image is worth printing, it's worth the extra time, and expense, of fiber.

I do find, however, that my view corresponds along generational lines. I've been printing since about 1970. My unscientific observation is that those of my photographic "vintage" are more opposed to RC than younger darkroom enthusiasts.

PS- I'm not THAT old... I just started VERY early... LOL
 

Tony-S

Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Messages
1,132
Location
Colorado, USA
Format
Multi Format
pentaxuser said:
If you want to combine the convenience of RC with the weight of FB you can buy Ilford RC Portfolio. Just be prepared to pay a little extra for the weight.
Click to expand...

Does it take toners any better than the non-Portfolio, such as Berg's sepia or copper toners?
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
51,973
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
Tony:

All of the selenium toners I've tried work in similar ways. They are not identical, but the differences are the sort that are dealt with by following the included instructions (which are very similar) and experimenting a bit.

And you need to be careful with the other Berg toners. Many of the single bath toners (like copper and blue) are in essence dyes. They work in interesting ways, but do not make the fundamental chemical changes in the same way as Selenium, Kodak Brown, or two bath sepia toners do.
 

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
14,566
Location
K,Germany
Format
Medium Format

amen to that!
 

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
19,625
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm
brian steinberger said:
I have been tempted to try this. How is it in 11x14? My problem with RC has always been how cheesy it feels in larger sizes. I love 5x7 and 8x10, but above that, not.
Click to expand...

I can't say as I have only used it in postcard size but I can't think of why it shouldn't be as effective in 11x14. Of course you have to like either RC glossy or pearl as it only comes in those two surfaces.

At 11x14 I imagine that it would be framed and frankly the extra weight and stiffness wouldn't then matter, would it? Given its price and the framing aspect I wouldn't bother beyond 8x10 unless I intended to simply keep it unframed or unmatted and in a box

pentaxuser
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…