Which variable contrast printing papers have you used lately?

[fschifano]

There is a difference between Ilford Multigrade developer and Dektol. For starters, the Ilford developer is a PQ formulation, while Dektol is a MQ developer. I don't know if the substitution of Metol instead of phenidone makes much difference, but the restrainer used certainly does. Ilford uses benzotriazole which will retain the cold tones better than the potassium bromide that Kodak uses in Dektol. I think that a warmtone developer certainly will change the tone of the paper. Warm tone developers tend to be less strong versions of classic MQ formulations with a bit of extra bromide included. I start out with a more dilute version of Dektol, and the paper warms up as the bromide levels increase with use.

 

[Curt]

Interesting that there is such a basis toward warmtone papers in this thread. I've always liked the glossy neutral to cool paper look myself.

Mike

I noticed that too, I used a lot of early Oriental paper and found that it was just right and I preferred a neutral glossy look. Since using Black Cat for the pigment in Carbon Transfer I've seen that a slightly warm appearance is not that bad.

 

[Adrian Twiss]

Interesting to hear about your findings on Fomabrom, Frank. Honestly, I've always developed the paper in Ilford Multigrade and that looks neutral-cold to me. I haven't toned it, only seen that it does exhibit very little tonal variation in lith. When I started out printing B/W (being a wee fish in a big pond, etc) I used Neutol WA - I wonder if the warmtone developers could shift the tone a bit with Fomabrom?

Defender 55D Portrait developer does warm the image up somewhat. I also found that D72 with 10ml/litre of 2% benzotriazole gives neutral to cold tones.