What paper to buy?

kjsphoto

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Apr 21, 2004
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Ok,

I am looking for FB VC and Graded paper. What do you recommend? The paper I used many years ago is no longer being made Well I cannot find it. I am looking for a paper that is neutral of cool in tone and I also like a matte or luster finish. Do not like Glossy. Now when I bought paper years ago FB paper only came in one finish as far as I knew.

I really need some advice from you all! I saw the Oriental paper in FB but it said warm tone and I do not like the brown looking images.

Also if you could recommend a paper developer as well that would be awesome…

Thanks again,

Kev
 

VoidoidRamone

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http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=503&pid=6101
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=503&pid=17
First link is to Arista EDU (which is repackaged Forte Polygrade) and the second link is to Agfa 118. Since I generally only use glossy paper I haven't tried either of these papers, but I am familiar with the glossy versions and like both a lot. Oriental VCFB is my favorite, but I am pretty sure that their cold tone paper is made in glossy surface only. And I haven't tried graded papers yet, so I'm not sure about those. I like Dektol and Agfa Neutol Plus for developers, but I haven't used a lot of different paper developers...
-Grant
 

doughowk

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Feb 11, 2003
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I like both Oriental Seagull (Freestyle has it) & Forte Fortezo. Forte is having financial problems so try to get some while supplies last. I tried to order it from J&C but not available, so ordered from B&H. I'm still experimenting with alot of developers, but do like Agfa Neutol both WA & Plus. Split Developers works well on the graded papers giving an inbetween contrast level.
 

Donald Miller

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Dec 21, 2002
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I like Oriental Seagull VCFB and also graded Seagull. B&H has it and I have had excellent experience with them. Their pricing seems to be more favorable then some. I ordered from Freestyle several years ago and they were accomodating as well.
 

David A. Goldfarb

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For a cold tone enlarging paper, Seagull graded is a good choice. Also try Maco Expo RF graded, which responds very nicely to amidol and holds shadow detail like nothing else I've used. You can find it at freestylecamera.com.
 

Deckled Edge

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Jan 25, 2004
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Manhattan Be
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Kodak Polymax Fine Art. It comes in a "lustre" surface, as well as the glossy. It's double weight and neutral to cold. You can cool it down additionally with Edwal Ultra Black and Selenium. I have stated this here on other threads, but when I contact print a negative on several papers I invariably prefer the PMFA. With split filtering, it's a snap to work with. My camera store stocked dozens of packages of Ilford MG IV in 16x20, but no PMFA in that size. When I went to print some 7x17 negs I just couldn't get the snap and "look" that Polymax has. I special ordered some, and now I wait. You can probably even buy it in Bishop (but not Olancha) or wherever Big Yellow is sold.
 
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