Paper Suggestions for 4x5 Contact Printing

mmezyk

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Feb 10, 2006
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I've collected all the gear to set up and contact print. Now my question would be to hear some insight into good paper recommendations for general portrature contact pritns from 4x5 negatives.

I most likely will be using an ilford standard paper developer or something simlar (nothing specialized, at least for now). So would you have a recommendation on HP5 and TRI-X Negatives developed in Agfa Rodinal? I tend to like prints with a bit of contrast that come off dynamic.

-Marek
 

Clueless

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Devil's adovcate: for you, what is the purpose of the contact print? Is it a proof to inform you about the content of the negative. or is it "the" output per se?
 

Alex Hawley

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With the demise Kodak's Azo, there is no longer specific contact printing paper on the market. So, pick your favorite poison out of the many enlarging papers out there. If you have a current favorite, that would be the one to start with.
 

Donald Miller

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Depends a lot on what you plan to expose the paper with. If you have an enlarger with variable contrast filters, a VC paper would be best. If you don't have an enlarger, it may be best to look toward a graded material.
 

kjsphoto

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For my contact prints I am using Oriental in Ansco 130. Has nice tones and good blacks, but you have to selenium tone it to get the cool blacks. About 1:9 or 1:10 about 3 mins.

One day I hope to hand coat my own contact papers and then, well no more worries.

Just my two cents.
 

Ole

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Alex Hawley said:
With the demise Kodak's Azo, there is no longer specific contact printing paper on the market. ...
Click to expand...

What about Bergger Art Contact? Isn't that still on the market?

Except for that: Pick a paper you like. Smoother surfaces give sharper prints, but that may not always be what works best.
 

Lachlan Young

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From what some have said JandC's Nuance paper is pretty good for contact printing - after all an ancestor of this paper was used by Edward Weston for some of his contact prints. Alternatively JandC's FINEPRINT paper which is VC could be useful as it can hold a very long tonal range with a strong D-max. Try and see.

Good luck,

Lachlan
 

MenacingTourist

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I've been enjoying making contact prints under a 7watt bulb and two pieces of glass. I opted to start with Ilford RC warm tone paper and Dektol because I got the paper for super cheap. I like the results but will eventually try to get comfortable with the Bromide paper made by Kentmore. I think this paper is a good match with the way I print. I'm not sure on a developer yet but am interested in Ansco 130.

You can see some of my initial results in my gallery. Contact printing is a ton of fun and if the negative is big enough you mostly don't need an enlarger.
 

Will S

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I think you can still get Azo from Michael A Smith (www.michaelandpaula.com) though I don't know what sizes.

I see Azo on Ebay in smallish sizes a lot too.

And Lodima Fine Art *will* eventually be available....

For contact printing I'd start at Michael's site.

Best,

Will
 

Jim Noel

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I just checked the web site and Bergger Art Contact is nt listed under their products.
 

Loose Gravel

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I haven't tried it, but has anyone tried Fomatone? I thought this was a contact paper. At least it is slow.
 

ineffablething

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May 8, 2005
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The Bergger Art Contact paper isn't really a "contact" paper. It prints very easily under an enlarger and is not especially slow. It is a cooltone paper on triple weight base. I still haven't found a good use for it. Don't know if it's still in production, but if you are looking for a slow,predominantly chloride paper for contact printing,this aint it.

W.
 
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