paper choice

Jon Scarr · Feb 1, 2010

Greetings,
I'm new to this forum. I'm wondering if anyone has found a replacement paper
for Kodak Polymax that looks "the same"? I've tried several papers over the last few years but none seem to have the same richness as Polymax.
Thanks.

jeroldharter · Feb 1, 2010

I went through the same thing having used Polymax as my main paper some time ago. I tested most of the available papers. The winner was Kentmere FP VC fiber based paper which is available at Freestyle for a good price also. Tones actively in selenium.

Neal · Feb 2, 2010

Dear Jon,

A second for Kentmere.

Neal Wydra

Jon Scarr · Feb 2, 2010

Thanks so much for the advice. I'ii try it!

Jon

Tom Kershaw · Feb 2, 2010

jeroldharter said:
I went through the same thing having used Polymax as my main paper some time ago. I tested most of the available papers. The winner was Kentmere FP VC fiber based paper which is available at Freestyle for a good price also. Tones actively in selenium.

The Kentmere FP VC I have in stock tends to go rather quickly towards purple with selenium toning, do you have this issue?

Tom

jeroldharter · Feb 2, 2010

Tom Kershaw said:
The Kentmere FP VC I have in stock tends to go rather quickly towards purple with selenium toning, do you have this issue?

Tom

Yes, and it will go red if you keep it in there.

I don't like the color changes but go for the deeper blacks so I use a dilution of 1:20 for about 2 minutes at 68 degrees which results in a cold black but not blue/purple.

Tom Kershaw · Feb 2, 2010

jeroldharter said:
Yes, and it will go red if you keep it in there.

I don't like the color changes but go for the deeper blacks so I use a dilution of 1:20 for about 2 minutes at 68 degrees which results in a cold black but not blue/purple.

Perhaps I should reinvestigate Kentmere FP VC. My other attempts to find a cold tone fibre base paper sans gold toning have not come to much. ILFORD Cooltone MG is good, but not available on fibre base.

jeroldharter · Feb 2, 2010

Tom Kershaw said:
Perhaps I should reinvestigate Kentmere FP VC. My other attempts to find a cold tone fibre base paper sans gold toning have not come to much. ILFORD Cooltone MG is good, but not available on fibre base.

I did a paper test (with Zone VI developer) of most of the papers available at Freestyle (including regular Ilford). Kentmere was the coldest black to my eye by a significant margin when the prints were compared as a group on a table.

Tom Kershaw · Feb 2, 2010

jeroldharter said:
I did a paper test (with Zone VI developer) of most of the papers available at Freestyle (including regular Ilford). Kentmere was the coldest black to my eye by a significant margin when the prints were compared as a group on a table.

Are you using Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner?

Tom

jeroldharter · Feb 2, 2010

Tom Kershaw said:
Are you using Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner?

Tom

Yes KRST, 1:19 or 100 ml in 2000 ml of working solution of PermaWash for approximately 2 min. I keep an untoned print in a water tray for comparison to make sure I don't go too far.

paper choice

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