Oriental Seagull Paper

CraigK · Feb 6, 2005

Hi All,

Well my personal stash of Oriental Seagull FBVC has finally run out. I need more. But as far as I can tell after a bit of googling around, there are no dealers in Canada still selling the stuff. So where on this here interweb does a poor prairie boy go to get his fix of Seagull?

I'd plunk down my nickle chez J+C but it seems they don't carry the paper.

How about some of APUG's other fine sponsors? Freestyle has it, Calumet too. Any others? Any suggestions as to which one should get my Visa number?

Kevin Caulfield · Feb 6, 2005

You can definitely get it at B&H in NYC. I got some there myself just last week.

Bruce Osgood · Feb 6, 2005

Forget about Adorama. I was in there a couple of weeks ago and they had maybe a dozen boxes of varous sizes & finishes. Today they only seem to have one kind in FB.

kjsphoto · Feb 7, 2005

I just got some from freestyle also.

They have it in stock just bought it yesterday online.

kev

Tom Stanworth · Feb 7, 2005

I believe that the emulsion for the graded has been upgraded and the new stuff is no longer 'G' but 'GF' or something like that. I still have the old stuff and hope that the new is not worse. A very worthy alternative is Polymax Fine Art, which may also be far cheaper. It is half the price in the UK apart from when Oriental is on special.

Mark Layne · Feb 7, 2005

CraigK said:
Hi All,

Well my personal stash of Oriental Seagull FBVC has finally run out. I need more. But as far as I can tell after a bit of googling around, there are no dealers in Canada still selling the stuff. So where on this here interweb does a poor prairie boy go to get his fix of Seagull?

I'd plunk down my nickle chez J+C but it seems they don't carry the paper.

How about some of APUG's other fine sponsors? Freestyle has it, Calumet too. Any others? Any suggestions as to which one should get my Visa number?

Seagull is a fine paper but you might like to try Polymax FA. It's not mentioned much but is an excellent cold tone with a beautiful surface like the old Elite. Responds well to toning too
Mark

AlanC · Feb 7, 2005

Tom,

Where is the best place to get Polymax in the UK?

Regards,
Alan Clark

jstewart · Feb 7, 2005

Polymax FA and toning?

It doesn't tone with selenium for me, and the product guide confirms that. I also find it has really really cold tone, especially if you use benzotriazone as restrainer. With KBr is just a small bit warmer (in D72).

Which toners are effective?

Jim

Jon Shiu · Feb 7, 2005

I may be mistaken, but doesn't the Polymax look kind of like a pearl RC surface when you look at it from an angle?

Tom Stanworth · Feb 7, 2005

The polymax FA I have used has a neutral cold tone ie neutral but cold with the right devs. It has a very smooth gloss ie does not have the tiny pores 'look' that oriental has at an angle. Its surface is near identical to Agfa MCC glossy ie very nice. In selnium, it does tone and build density very well. It does not change colour much which for me and a cold paper is a bonus. Goes slightly selenium purple, but not too much.

You can get it from Silverprint, tho only in larger sizes I think (16x12 minimum rings a bell). IMHO it is a superb underappreciated paper and I have used it for some of my best prints. The 10 pack or 20x16 is good value, negating teh need for 50 packs for small runs (very close to 1/5 price of 50 pack)!

Tom

AlanC · Feb 7, 2005

Many thanks for the info Tom. I will give Silverprint a look.

Alan Clark

Mark Layne · Feb 7, 2005

jstewart said:
Polymax FA and toning?

It doesn't tone with selenium for me, and the product guide confirms that. I also find it has really really cold tone, especially if you use benzotriazone as restrainer. With KBr is just a small bit warmer (in D72).

Which toners are effective?

Jim

Don't think I would recommend Polymax FA for a warm tone - it suits those subjects where a cold tone is right.That said it will 'purple up' a bit in selenium, it also tones well in Polytoner, Viradon and gold.
I note Tom compares its surface texture to Agfa MCC. I find the paper we get here has a texture almost identical to the old Elite, i.e a sort of felt finish with a high gloss.
Of course they also made a C surface which was semi-gloss and cream. I loved this paper and so naturally it has just been discontinued.
Mark

Oriental Seagull Paper

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