Polymax users...what now?

[Weldon]

I am going to miss the cold tone of Polymax FB paper. I have used Seagull in the past but found it to be kind of dull compared to Polymax. What do you Polymax users plan to use as a replacement?

 

[Paul Sorensen]

I have used Polymax only a bit, but if what you are looking for is very bright white and cold to neutral blacks, I have really fallen for Kentmere.

 

[blaze-on]

Stock up is what I've been doing. One box ordered every two weeks to accommodate budget. My fridge has far more paper and film than food.

Polymax with a dash of pepper and some hot mustard ain't bad in a pinch...

 

[Daniel Lawton]

I only recently tried Polymax Fine Art when I got stuck in a jam and bought from a local place that only sells Kodak. It truly is a beautiful paper and its a shame Kodak has given us an open hand slap by killing it. With that being said, I also have heard that Kentmere makes a similar paper so I plan on giving that a try.

 

[Weldon]

How long will it stay good in the cold? Is it better to keep cold or freeze and...how big is your fridge?

 

[Peter Schrager]

Poylmax

I don't want to rain on the parade but Polymax has incorporated developers and it will not remain in suspension forever in the freezer. Sorry.....
Best, Peter

 

[Ronald Moravec]

Ilford MG FB.

I knew Ilford had developer, but not Kodak. Most people think we`re nuts, but it`s true. That`s why todays papers fog after two years.

 

[Peter Schrager]

FOG

Ronald-FORTE is the answer. It is "old style" technology/emulsion and will freeze forever
Peter

 

[hortense]

Paper Evaluations and Rating

Ref. “The Great Paper/Developer Shoot-Out by Bruce Barlow.
“View Camera” March/April &May/June 2004
Bruce Barlow was a student of Fred Picker and did his video on printing. Even though the referenced article was poorly written, I suspect his evaluation has some substance. As a result I found that print development of 3-minutes is of value. Here's his rating:
BEST PAPERS (toned)
BEST DEVELOPERS (toned prints)
Warm toned ranking
1. Agfa Multiclassic (45¢ 8x10 sheet) Bergger Silver Supreme
($2.75 8 x 10 sheet)
Clayton Ultra Cold Tone liquid (6-min.)
Clayton Ultra Cold Tone liquid (2-min.)
Mid. Ilford Multigrade Fiberbase VC (neutral)
1st ranked Ilford Multigrade (2-min)
3rd ranked Dektol (2-min.)
Neutral to slightly cold toned:
Forte Elegance Polygrade V VC (52¢ 8x10 sheet)
Dektol powder (2-min.)
Polymax FA VC for women’s portraits (57¢ 8 x 10 sheet)
Edwal Ultra Black liquid liquid (2-min)
Coldest Paper
Oriental Seagull VC.
Ewal Platinum II liquid (2-min.)

Miscellaneous Information
• All papers have roughly the same speed except Ilford Galerie?
(Polymax vs. Ilford MGV?)
• Ilford Galerie is 2-stops slower than other papers.
• Developers required different toning times.
• Six minutes vs. 2-minutes reduced exposure time.
• 16-oz. glass coke bottles for developer storage.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Mr. Barlow

Hortense- I know Mr. Barlow quite well. He was not a student of Fred Picker. He was actually involved with the Zone VI Company at one time.He was brought in to help "fix" some problems they were having. He and Richard Ritter
give the Fine Focus Workshops up in Vermont several times a year.
Best, Peter Schrager

 

[bazz8]

I found out this with 24x20 paper a expensive discovery 25 shts down the drain last kodak paper for me.
regards
Barry Treleaven

 

[hortense]

Bruce Barlow

Hortense- I know Mr. Barlow quite well. He was not a student of Fred Picker. He was actually involved with the Zone VI Company at one time.He was brought in to help "fix" some problems they were having. He and Richard Ritter
give the Fine Focus Workshops up in Vermont several times a year.
Best, Peter Schrager

Peter, sorry, I did not know this; should have gotten my fact straight.