Choosing photo paper :)

Compaq

Compaq

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Jan 28, 2012
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The photo paper I can use for free that the photo club owns, is really old. The prints come out really flat and grey. Really bad! So, I wanted to buy my own so that I can get some decent prints.

I shoot black and white, so I'd like good contrast, yet decent shadow detail and highlight detail. Basically, good all round paper. I'm using it for snaps from trips with friends, so professional quality isn't necessary. That leaves out fiber paper, as I understand it. Resin coated should be fine for my use. If I get shots that I might hang, I'll consider better paper.

As for my budget, I'm a student, and won't afford the most expensive. I'm planning on printing in the standard 10x15cm size.

Is that all you need to give good advice? Developer, would that affect my choice?

Thank you for assistance!
 
...for your application, nearly any RC paper would work that is on the market today. Not sure what is cheap/accessible around Norway, but for RC, I generally use Oriental as it's nearly the same as Ilford, but cheaper. Fiber is much better for highlight and shadow control detail, but if you insist on something cheaper, nearly anything will work for you in RC.
 
Most RC papers should work. There are multiple reasons that you could be getting flat grey prints. Outdated paper, weak developer, or light leaks in the darkroom are a few common culprits.
 
I would recommend starting with something like Ilford's Multigrade IV RC Deluxe paper in the Glossy finish...
It's a great paper to start with, will give you good blacks, bright whites and everything in between (as long as it's there in the neg)...
Now the bad news...it will also show you what you're doing wrong...focus, developing errors, lint, spots...
The glossy finish won't hide anything...
It's a basic paper that most students start with...then try to get away from...later it's fun to revisit...just printed on some last week...
 
Old paper, especially free paper, can be a trap. Check it by taking a sheet, and without exposing it under the enlarger, put it straight through the develop - stop - fix routine. Good paper will come out white - "paper white" is as white as the highlights in your image can possibly be with that paper. Old papers are often fogged, sometimes very badly. If it is very lightly fogged a little benzo (10ml of benzotriazole 1% solution added to 1 litre of developer) might help it enough to become usable. Good luck!
 
Old paper could be fogged (grey) on it's own but also check to be sure the Darkroom lights aren't too close or too bright (yeah, that can happen) or the wrong type...
Do the test Chris is talking about and while trying it with the old paper try a sheet of paper you know to be good (fresh & not out dated)
 
Compaq said:
The photo paper I can use for free that the photo club owns, is really old. The prints come out really flat and grey. Really bad! So, I wanted to buy my own so that I can get some decent prints.

I shoot black and white, so I'd like good contrast, yet decent shadow detail and highlight detail. Basically, good all round paper. I'm using it for snaps from trips with friends, so professional quality isn't necessary. That leaves out fiber paper, as I understand it. Resin coated should be fine for my use. If I get shots that I might hang, I'll consider better paper.

As for my budget, I'm a student, and won't afford the most expensive. I'm planning on printing in the standard 10x15cm size.

Is that all you need to give good advice? Developer, would that affect my choice?

Thank you for assistance!
Click to expand...

"The prints come out really flat and grey. Really bad!" Are you sure it's because of the age of the paper but not due to exhausted developer or something else?

Buy a small pack of grade III paper (no multigrade if you do not have proper filters for the enlarger) and Dektol paper developer for 1lt. solution to start with. Dektol works fine with any paper.
 
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