Do you know of any multigrade,fibre papers that have a real warm tone like the Agfa graded paper.

-- oso (learn@harbornet.com), August 25, 1997

Answers

Ilford has a new paper, "MG FB Warmtone", that my supplier just gave me a 10 pack of 8x10 to try. I have not printed on it yet, probably will in the next week to ten days and will let you know. (I am assuming it is new, I have been out of the darkroom for the last 8 or so years) By the way thanks for your response to my question on "developer temperature change..."! (I also added a note as to how I am attempting to control my 8x10 and smaller chemistry trays.)

-- Rick W. Stiles (rstiles@ghg.net), August 25, 1997.

Warmtone MG FB

I have recently tried the new Ilford Warmtone multigrade fiber based paper and was really pleased with it. I think it's warmer than the Agfa glossy but not as creamy as the same Agfa matt, which is very warm (almost yellow). It also tones really strongly and when I used it with Agfa Viradon it turned a bright rusty colour after about 8 minutes but would look great with just a fraction of that time. I was able to darken it somewhat with selenium toner. I strongly recommend the paper although I have read alot of negative reviews as well.

-- Andy Laycock (pbrlab@unixg.ubc.ca), August 26, 1997.

Regarding selenium toning Ilford MG warm.............be forewarned a little (1:20 and not much time) goes a long way.

-- Peter T. (petert@webtv.net), August 28, 1997.

I'll add my voice to the 'warnings' about Ilford's warmtone MG paper. A little Selenium toning does go a long way with this paper. I haven't workd out what dilution is best yest, but water your toner down when you first start with it. otherwise, a very nice paper to work with. joe

-- Joseph O'Neil (joneil@multiboard.com), August 31, 1997.

Ilford WT

Ilford warm tone is an excellent paper. Although not as warm as the Ilford ad shows (a real deep choclate brown), it has a very pleasing warm tone. I tested it along with Portriga (G2 & G3) and Ektalure. The ilford really stood out from the rest. It showed more shadow contrast than the other two along with very pleasing toning charachteristics. I split toned it with a dilution of 1:10 at aproximately 10 minutes. I use to be a strict Portriga-man, but I am now switching to the Ilford.

-- Daemian Smith (stddms06@shsu.edu), September 11, 1997.

which developer did you use?

Which developer did you use before split-toning the Ilford FB warm tone paper?

-- Steve Van Till (steve@vantill.com), March 14, 1998.

Ilford Warm Tone

I've tried this paper, it's got some nice characteristics, and some that I'm less thrilled with.

The image tone is dependent on the developer you use. I got the warmest tones with Kodak Selectol (which might no longer be available -- this is not Selectol Soft!) the coolest tones (but warmer than neutral black) with Dektol, and sort of in the middle with Agfa Neutol WA.

I do like the warm image tone, mostly for portraits, but it works well with other subjects well.

The paper is also a warm white, and looks fine on its own, but when you put it next to a bright white base paper, it looks kind of dingy. I think it would look poor to show prints on this paper right next to prints on a neutral paper.

I'm not sure yet how much I'll use the stuff.

-- anonymously answered, September 17, 1997

Ilford MG WT

I spent years of trying various paper developers to get a neutral black on VC papers. I found Ilford to be the most neutral B&W paper using Zone VI print developer. This is similar to Dektol, but has better shadow seperation. I rarely print on warm tone paper, but have spent quite some time with the new Ilford VC WT.Here's what I've found: 1. This is the world's fastest VC warmtone! Just about 1 stop slower than MG FB. 2. Using my preferred Zone VI developer, I get a print tone that's very close to Agfa VC. The base is right at the edge of ivory, but is still OK. 3. A dip in selenium 1:20 results in a very pleasing warm/neutral tone. I've not had any trouble with runaway toning though. Maybe they changed the emulsion recently. 4. To get the rich chocolate brown shown in their ads, I use the remarkably excellent Fotospeed Odourless Sepia toner. There is a third solution that is added directly to the working solution that moves the print color from yellow/brown to deep brown depending on the concetration. This is the best sepia toner I've ever used. Just about any tone is available with it. Like Ilford, it is British. 5. The paper surface is beutiful. Also, it is not suseptible to finger marks like Forte is. I hope this helps.

-- Michael D Fraser (mdfraser@earthlink.net), September 23, 1997.

Let's not forget Luminos and their new Flexicon VC Fibre Premiere Warm Tone paper. It has a very nice creamy base and tones well with whatever toner you may want to use. I've used Kodak Polytoner with some interesting results.

-- Bob Tipton (BTIP487@AOL.com), September 29, 1997.