i used fomabrom vc fb variant iv 123 velvet semi-matte neutral-tone paper for the first time last night. it's pretty sexy. although, contrary to freestylephoto.biz's description, it doesn't seem to be high-contrast. i printed using a 2.5 graded filter, and i still got lots of midtones. do i really need a 3 or 4 grade filter?
Maybe your exposure was flat. Did you try a nice negative with full blacks and whites?
yeah, the negative i tried had a pretty good range. it doesn't have a ton of mid-tones; just more than i would expect.
i want some cheap paper to print non-artistic exposures on.
this (fotokemika varycon km vc fb 5x7", 100 sheets, matte) looks like a good deal, but it requires a red safe light, and i only have an oc safe light. :(
thanks to becky, i now feel like printing on rc is a sin. otherwise, i'd get this box of 100 sheets of arista vc rc semi-matte 5x7" paper.
what to do?
this (fotokemika varycon km vc fb 5x7", 100 sheets, matte) looks like a good deal, but it requires a red safe light, and i only have an oc safe light. :(
thanks to becky, i now feel like printing on rc is a sin. otherwise, i'd get this box of 100 sheets of arista vc rc semi-matte 5x7" paper.
what to do?
If you're looking for something cheap to print non-artistic exposures on...why not rc?
i thought fb was non-archival quality.
rc is much less archival than fiber, true, but both do fade in time. So if your goal is something cheap, you could buy some rc and just make sure to fix and wash the hell out of it.
ok, thanks for the input. i'll probably go with rc, then.
What's the difference?
fiber base is like real paper. resin coated is like plastic paper. according to becky, the former has better archival properties. the former is also the traditional paper and generally preferred by artists, i think.
so i got the arista edu 5x7 vc rc. it's great for non-artistic exposures (just random shots with friends) and for proofing. i mean, i can make a 5x7 rc print for the same price as a fb test strip!
:D
:D
haha you're so excited!
and it takes four minutes to wash without a washing aid. :D
Are you talking about hypo, or photo-flo? Because fiber doesn't need photo-flo either...only film.
photo-flo is a wetting agent. hypo-clear is a wash aid. hypo is a fixer.
Yeah, making sure you knew the difference.
after perfecting the exposure, i'm running three prints of each frame. overkill? :o
never!
ok maybe at some point
ok maybe at some point
now i do all my proofing on 5x7" rc. when i print an amazing photo, then i'll duplicate it on 8x10" fb.
/o/
/o/
so i just don't think i like the fomabrom vc fb variant iv 123 velvet semi-matte neutral-tone paper very much.
i produced the same image on both it and the ilford mgiv fb matte paper. using 35/200 magenta on my dichro head, the foma paper is significantly more flat. i think the foma paper drops about 0.5 to 1.0 grade compared to the ilford paper.
i don't generally enjoy the feel of the velvet semi-matte--maybe it would suit soft portraiture. but for objects and textures, i really want to emphasize the image.
the foma paper is also significantly warmer than the ilford paper, despite being called "neutral-tone." i don't like the warmth. i like my prints cold. again, maybe i would like the warmth in some portrait situations.
--
i really like the ilford mgiv fb matte paper, though. <3
i produced the same image on both it and the ilford mgiv fb matte paper. using 35/200 magenta on my dichro head, the foma paper is significantly more flat. i think the foma paper drops about 0.5 to 1.0 grade compared to the ilford paper.
i don't generally enjoy the feel of the velvet semi-matte--maybe it would suit soft portraiture. but for objects and textures, i really want to emphasize the image.
the foma paper is also significantly warmer than the ilford paper, despite being called "neutral-tone." i don't like the warmth. i like my prints cold. again, maybe i would like the warmth in some portrait situations.
--
i really like the ilford mgiv fb matte paper, though. <3
ditto to the last line (though I have a soft spot for their semi-matte, too) :D
their warm-tone semi-matte?
:( no, I'm confusing brands.
I like Ilford's matte and pearl...it's Forte's semi-matte that was so lovely. Especially after selenium toning.
I like Ilford's matte and pearl...it's Forte's semi-matte that was so lovely. Especially after selenium toning.
Ilford Pearl was what I always used back in college... thanks for reminding me!
:)
ilford pearl only comes in rc. :(
Doesn't mean it isn't a gorgeous surface! :D
I wish it was in fiber, too :(
I wish it was in fiber, too :(
> Doesn't mean it isn't a gorgeous surface! :D
i know! it just means that i won't buy it.
i know! it just means that i won't buy it.