This brand is certainly has good and with quality kind of products and I will gladly recommend this to my colleagues. - Scott Safadi
Photo Gear
Covering The Photo Beat; Black And White Papers Page 2
Whatever paper you choose, it is extremely important to develop it to completion: that is, until the blacks are as black as they are going to get, and all other tones are fully developed. At the normal 68ÞF, 20ÞC, this should take 2-3 minutes. "Snatching" a print because it is going too dark, too fast, is a short cut to disaster. Remake the print with less exposure.
Also, don't be afraid to "waste" paper. Your first print could benefit from localized burning and dodging? Remake it. The contrast isn't quite right on your second print? Remake it. Using five sheets to get one great print isn't a waste: it's an intelligent use of resources. Which is better: one great print from five sheets, or five mediocre ones?
If you are just starting to print, or if you live in an area prone to water shortages, the best choice is resin-coated paper. Beginners can process more prints faster (and practice is the key to getting better) and your water bills will be lower. Although developing and fixing times for resin-coated papers and fiber-based papers are very similar, washing times are very different. As long as the water is above about 40ÞF, 5ÞC, it only takes 2 minutes to wash a resin-coated print. You can however speed the washing of fiber-based prints considerably with a rapid-wash sequence: a brief wash, followed by a hypo clear bath (available from numerous manufacturers), followed by another wash, usually 5-10 minutes. Just follow the manufacturer's instructions.
ISO(R) And Paper Grades
Paper grades--from 00 (very soft) to 5 (very hard)-- are not standardized: one manufacturer's Grade 3 may behave very similarly to another manufacturer's Grade 2. The best way around this confusion is to try to find the ISO(R) paper grades in the spec sheets or on the websites: the lower the ISO(R), the higher the contrast. The following ISO(R) figures give a good idea of contrast levels, but remember that different developers can effect wide variations in contrast.
Paper Grade |
ISO(R) |
Notes |
00 | 150-180+ | Extremely soft; normally VC only |
0 | 140-160 | Extra soft |
1 | 120-150 | Soft |
2 | 90-130 | Normal or "soft standard" |
3 | 70-100 | Hard or "hard standard" |
4 | 50-80 | "Vigorous" or "hard" |
5 | 35-50 | "Extra hard"; see text |
Introductions
Foma papers are distributed by OmegaSatter. This well-known Czech manufacturer
makes a wide range of papers, not all textures and sizes of which are necessarily
available. Check their website for details.
Silver Tone paper from Event Cameras is a resin-coated, VC paper.
Freestyle has picked up substantially the whole of Kentmere's range of
papers, plus Kentmere Bromide Glossy in Grades 2, 3, and 4, made especially
for the US market. Kentmere papers come in 8x10, 11x14, and 16x20" in
all three grades and in 20x24" in Grades 2 and 3. Kentmere will be celebrating
their centenary next year, so look for new (or old) papers to be introduced
or re-introduced.
Manufacturers/Distributors
Adorama Camera, Inc.
42 W 18th St.
New York, NY 10011
(800) 223-2500
(212) 741-0052
www.adorama.com
AgfaPhoto USA Corp.
100 Challenger Rd.
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
(800) 243-2652
(201) 373-4290
www.agfaphoto.com
B&H Photo
420 9th Ave.
New York, NY 10001
(800) 972-5999
(212) 502-6200
www.bhphotovideo.com
Bergger Products, Inc.
5955 Palo Verde Dr.
Rockford, IL 61114
(815) 282-9876
www.bergger.com
Eastman Kodak Company
343 State St.
Rochester, NY 14650
(800) 242-2424
www.kodak.com
Event Cameras
8919 NE 198th St.
Bothell, WA 60060
(888) 396-8872
www.eventcameras.com
Freestyle Photographic Supplies (Arista, Kentmere, Maco)
5124 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90027
(800) 292-6137 (North America)
(323) 660-3460 (International)
www.freestylephoto.biz
Ilford Imaging USA Inc.
W 115 Century Rd.
Paramus, NJ 07652
(800) 631-2522
(201) 265-6000
www.ilford.com
OmegaSatter (Foma, Forte)
1041 S Carroll St.
Hampstead, MD 21074
(410) 374-3250
www.omegasatter.com
Oriental Photo USA
945 W Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood, CA 90302
(800) 999-1984
www.orientalphotousa.com
Paterson Photographic Inc. (USA)
4680-A Industrial Access Rd.
Douglasville GA 30134
(770) 947-9796
www.patersonphotographic.com
TURA USA Inc.
18808 142nd Ave. NE, Ste. 2B
Woodinville, WA 98072
(425) 396-8872
www.turausa.com
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