BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Paper

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April 08, 2008

Getting back to your question for a minute Jacquie, yes, as far as wet/darkroom processing goes, there are different types and grades of paper including (generally) resin coated or fiber based, graded or polycontrast papers. For digital printing, sorry I can't help ya with that one but I'm sure someone else around here knows.
Mark

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April 08, 2008

I will be happy to tell you a little about chemical based photo papers. Fist lets discuss the paper. Most are fiber-based made from wood pulp. The paper is supplied in a assortment of thickness. Some special papers are very thin and foldable, most are single weight (common thickness), like drawing paper, some are double thick (double weight). The surface of the paper can be smooth or embossed. Embossing artificially changes the paper’s texture. We can buy single weight, double weight, semi-glossy, glossy, luster, matt, silk, tapestry, canvas, pebbled, and a whole lot more.

The light sensitive coat (emulsion) could be purchased with different sensitivities to light. A contact paper used to make images the same size as the negative. Enlarging papers used to make blow-up pictures, it has a higher sensitivity.

To develop, photo papers, they are immersed in chemical. When finished the paper is wet and saturated with chemicals. The residual chemicals will cause the image to fad, they must be washed away. Washing takes 30 ~ 60 minutes. As an alternative it is possible to chemically neutralize these harmful chemicals however washing is common. To reduce wash time many papers are waterproofed by coating them with plastic. This reduces wash time. These papers are called RC (resin coat).

Papers are made with specialized light sensitive coats. Different formulas to accommodate negatives that might be less than ideal as tonal range (contrast). A negative with poor contrast can be improved if printed using paper with a contrast scale (grade) designed to counteract the problem. The darkroom often inventories many types for this compensation having on hand boxes grades 0 ~ 5. Grade 2 is for normal negatives. Lower numbers are termed soft. The softer the grade the more shades grays, between black and white, the paper will yield. The harder papers like grade 5 are hasher with fewer grays. Grades help correct exposure or lighting errors. More advance papers are variable as to grade. A single box contained all the grades however one needs an inventory of special filters to make this work. Colored filters, you need one of each grade, are required, they are placed tin the path of the exposing (printing) light source. This way all the grades can be realized from a single box of paper.

This subject is so vast, if you need more information, just ask. Better hurry if you plan to used chemical type papers as soon they will be seen only in the museum. Likely they will nearby the display of Civil War medical instruments.

Alan Marcus (marginal technical gobbledygook)
ammarcus@earthlink.net

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April 09, 2008

There are many differences between papers. First off, if you believe the manufacturer of your inkjet printer, it will extol its own papers as best. And, without doubt, you should try them out first.

But, you'll soon find that alternatives exist. If you want to explore these, try samples packs. These are available for Ilford, Adorama's own brans and one or two more suppliers. Cost can be a consideration. Surprisingly, Staples own photo paper isn't too bad.

With my Canon printers, I've found that I don't like Epson papers. Until I found Ilford matte, I had to use one of HP's glossy papers for Calendars, as this was the only available paper at the time on which you could print on both sides.

I haven't used Kodak since the Ultima brand disappeared. I liked Ultima [in both glossy and satin,] but I had to set the printer up as if I was using plain paper, with a low to medium quality setting, to get good results. [And, yes, after I checked several places on various web sites; I verified that recommendation with Kodak.]

You can pay anything from $0.30 to $5.00 a sheet for inkjet paper [of course, some are cloth based.] This will be a soul-searching time as you'll need to be very careful or you can blow your budget.

I've standardized on Ilford Glossy [green box] for color prints and Ilford Pearl [red box] for B&W. But, I do like Ilford two-sided matte for high contrast B&W prints. Of course, the paper doesn't have that glossy feel.

Oh, did I mention that I like Canon Photo Pro with my Canon printers. It's more expensive than Ilford, however.

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April 09, 2008