Questions about Kodak RA4 paper rolls

[FujiLove]

I'm considering buying a 12" roll of Kodak Endura Premier, partly because it's half the price of cut sheets, and partly because I'd like to print wide Xpan shots. A couple of questions:

1. What's the physical size of the 12" x 88m rolls (http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/endura-premier-12x88m-matt-n-2946-p.asp)? I need to know whether it will fit comfortably in my darkroom fridge freezer.

2. Any thoughts on this paper versus Fuji Crystal Archive Supreme? I've only used the Fuji cut sheets before. I've seen people note the Kodak paper is a touch thicker than the Fuji sheets, but is there any significant difference in saturation or contrast?

3. How should RA4 paper be stored mid to long term – say 12 to 24 months? I've been storing my cut sheets in the fridge, but they are normally used up in 3 to 6 months. The roll is going to sit around much longer, so should it be frozen?

Finally, is cutting big rolls like this such a PITA that I should just be looking at the cut sheets and printing smaller? I don't have access to any sort of cutter, so I'll be doing everything by hand.

 

[mnemosyne]

The roll is twelve inch wide (obviously) and about 20 cm in diameter (IIRC) plus a bit of wrapping material. You should be able to store it in a normal sized (European) fridge. Be aware of any minimum order quantities, the 12" rolls typically come in boxes of two and most distributors only sell complete boxes (= 2 pieces at a time). Fuji CA Supreme is like the Fuji CA cut sheets you have used before, only on a thicker base. The emulsion should be identical. Kodak EP is more saturated and has a (somewhat) higher contrast. I would reckon about half a grade in b&w terms, but have never measured it. The base white of Kodak EP is not as bright as the Fuji base white. This is quite obvious when you compare both papers next to each other. The Kodak base appears slightly warmer, the Fuji base slightly colder. A matter of taste.
Cutting a 12" roll is not a big deal I find, but takes a bit of practice and organization in the dark. You should invest in a simple rotary cutter (A4 size should be sufficient for 12" rolls). If it is worth the hassle for you will depend on the amount of paper you use on a regular base. If you only print every now and then and have problems using up the whole roll within reasonable time you might end up with a big stash out of date paper which will nullify any initial cost savings. I have kept Kodak and Fuji for up to two years at room temperature (drifting between 12 C in winter and 24 C in summer) without problems. Fuji requires cooler storage conditions than Kodak according to tech sheets, IIRC.

 

[FujiLove]

The roll is twelve inch wide (obviously) and about 20 cm in diameter (IIRC) plus a bit of wrapping material. You should be able to store it in a normal sized (European) fridge. Be aware of any minimum order quantities, the 12" rolls typically come in boxes of two and most distributors only sell complete boxes (= 2 pieces at a time). Fuji CA Supreme is like the Fuji CA cut sheets you have used before, only on a thicker base. The emulsion should be identical. Kodak EP is more saturated and has a (somewhat) higher contrast. I would reckon about half a grade in b&w terms, but have never measured it. The base white of Kodak EP is not as bright as the Fuji base white. This is quite obvious when you compare both papers next to each other. The Kodak base appears slightly warmer, the Fuji base slightly colder. A matter of taste.
Cutting a 12" roll is not a big deal I find, but takes a bit of practice and organization in the dark. You should invest in a simple rotary cutter (A4 size should be sufficient for 12" rolls). If it is worth the hassle for you will depend on the amount of paper you use on a regular base. If you only print every now and then and have problems using up the whole roll within reasonable time you might end up with a big stash out of date paper which will nullify any initial cost savings. I have kept Kodak and Fuji for up to two years at room temperature (drifting between 12 C in winter and 24 C in summer) without problems. Fuji requires cooler storage conditions than Kodak according to tech sheets, IIRC.

Thanks - that's really useful. I hadn't considered the order quantities, so I'll check with the store.

I think personal taste would push me towards a warmer, more saturated paper, so I'll give Kodak a try this time around. I have some left-over Fuji paper, so it sounds like it could be useful to have both available to use depending on the subject matter.

Just checked the fridge and a 20cm diameter roll will easily fit, but not in the freezer. That should be okay, as I have a massive backlog of negatives to print, so I can see the roll quite easily being used in six months. I'll have to see if it's worth buying another roll to keep me going beyond that point.

I've just realised I do have a rotary guillotine stashed away somewhere which is more than big enough for a 12" roll. I'd completely forgotten about that. Now...it was packed away after our house move...so where the heck is that??!!

 

[MattKing]

While nice, for medium term (several months to a year) storage you don't need to refrigerate or freeze the paper.
What you need to do is ensure that the paper doesn't get too warm.
A cool (~20 C or lower) and dry cupboard is excellent.

 

[FujiLove]

While nice, for medium term (several months to a year) storage you don't need to refrigerate or freeze the paper.
What you need to do is ensure that the paper doesn't get too warm.
A cool (~20 C or lower) and dry cupboard is excellent.

Thanks Matt - If that's the case I could easily get away with keeping the paper at the back of my darkroom cupboard. It's away from radiators and direct sunlight and located on the colder north facing side of the house, so I reckon it should be under 20C for 10 months of the year. What's left can be stored in the fridge at the height of summer...and we don't have much of that in the UK.

My Xpan arrived on Monday. Very, very excited about the prospect of printing wide shots on long sheets of paper. I reckon I should be able to create an 11.5" x 31" print with the enlarger head touching the ceiling!

Next job: building a panoramic easel