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#1
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Paper: How old is too old?
Hi all,
I have 2 classes of older paper, some whose expiration date is less than a year old, and some that is old enough to vote. I recently tried the latter, some Ilford MG3X (deluxe) and some MG3R (rapid). The borders under the easel, and hence the highlights, look like an 18% grey card. OK for proofs, but if I'm going to go through the bother, I may as well try for proofs I want to look at. Helix sells something for older paper - is this worth trying? The other paper is Kodak PolyMax Fine Art, which I've not yet tried. What might I expect from this? Also, does anyone sell contrast filters that go before instead of after the lens? It seems to make sense to color the light only and spare the image from another pair of semi-reflective surfaces. Thanks, |
#2
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On 4/24/2005 10:05 PM tbrown spake thus:
Also, does anyone sell contrast filters that go before instead of after the lens? It seems to make sense to color the light only and spare the image from another pair of semi-reflective surfaces. Yes, su don't you know about the standard Ilford multigrade filters? They come in 6x6" sheets; pretty sure Kodak makes them as well. (I got mine from B&H.) -- It's a good guess that one of two things is going to happen in the coming days and weeks: Either Bolton goes down—-or we start learning a lot of unpleasant things about Sen. George Voinovich. - _Slate_, 4/19/05 (http://slate.msn.com/id/2117028/) |
#3
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Some papers age better than others but storage conditions are also
important. Heat is the enemy and tends to accelerate fogging. One way to use fogged paper is to add Benzotriazole to the developer. Benzotriazole is available from suppliers of photographic chemicals and is widely ued in Phenidone developers where bromide is not very effective. Bromide will also suppress fog but Benzotriazole is more effective. I don't have my reference available at the moment (I am away from home) but Grant Haist has a chart of amounts of Benzotriazole to use for both paper and film. I will try to find it later. I have recently used some Ilford Multigrade IV Deluxe which is about ten years old. It shows no fog or reduction in contrast. I've found that old Agfa paper generally holds up well. Kodak paper does not seem to do so well. One reason paper ages faster now is that Cadmium compounds can no longer be added due to environmental concerns. Cadmium serves several purposes in emulsions but preserving the emulsion is one of them. Fog in old emulsions is most often due to the continuation of a process known as ripening. Ripening is a normal part of the emulsion making process during which the silver halide grains gain in sensitivity. However, it is supposed to stop once the emulsion is finished. Various substances are added to the emulsion during the finishing step to prevent ripening from continuing after the emulsion is coated. Sometimes it doesn't work. One reason cold storage preserves film and paper is that it very substantially slows down after coating ripening. All variable contrast filters are available in sets of 6x6 inch gelatin or plastic sheets. These are used above the negative. They can be cut down for smaller enlargers. Kodak, Ilford, and Agfa all make filter sets. Each is tailored for the particular paper although any set can be used with any paper with some adjustment in exposure and variation in contrast. -- Richard Knoppow |
#4
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"Richard Knoppow" wrote
One way to use fogged paper is to add Benzotriazole I have found the best/cheapest way to handle BT is to buy 100g from B&H or Photographers' Formulary and dump it into 1 pint (~500ml) of 91% [or thereabouts] drugstore isopropyl alcohol. Total cost is $18, including the nifty storage bottle. This makes a 2% solution. I start at ~1.5ml/liter, but use Richard's numbers or experiment to find what works best for your paper and developer. Edwal's "Liquid Orthazite" costs about 30 times more than the do-it-yourself solution ($12.95/4oz of 0.2%). I've found that old Agfa paper generally holds up well. I will second this. But new Agfa paper doesn't, it is one of the worst, IMNSHO. -- Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics. To reply, remove spaces: n o lindan at ix . netcom . com psst.. want to buy an f-stop timer? nolindan.com/da/fstop/ |
#5
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-- Correction --
"Nicholas O. Lindan" wrote I have found the best/cheapest way to handle BT is to buy 100g That should be 10g. from B&H or Photographers' Formulary and dump it into 1 pint (~500ml) of 91% [or thereabouts] drugstore isopropyl alcohol. Total cost is $18 Should read $6 Edwal's "Liquid Orthazite" costs about 30 times Should read "Orthazite is about 100 times more expensive..." -- Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics. To reply, remove spaces: n o lindan at ix . netcom . com psst.. want to buy an f-stop timer? nolindan.com/da/fstop/ |
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