Does paper expire?

[Rogier]

I know we have some Illford multigrade paper in storage. Before I aggravate myself and dig all the way into that closet I would like to know in advance if it is worth the effort.

Does paper expire?
This paper is at least 7 years old by now...

 

[Freakscene]

Yes, it expires and it has an expiry date on it. Fogging is more important for paper than for film, because you can scan or print through some base fog, but on paper base fog means your whites are not white.

Marty

 

[Rogier]

Ah thanks for the quick reply.

 

[ChrisN]

Seven years? It's very likely that it will show significant fogging. Dig it out, take a sheet and tear it in half. Put the first half into the fixer then wash - that's paper white. Take the second half and develop - stop - fix. If it is darker than paper white, you have paper fog.

If it's only slightly fogged you can clear it with a little (10-15ml) of benzotriazole solution (1% I think) in the developer.

Good luck!

Edit: checked - use benzo in a 1% solution - 1 gram in 100ml water. Try 10ml of 1% solution in 1 litre of paper developer - up to 15ml max if badly fogged.

 

[roadmouse]

Fogging will be the biggest issue with old papers. This is a print I made on a paper from 1953
http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadmouse/4881953473/

I could get an image (and a nice tone) but it was not easy to print on.

 

[ath]

I have Multigrade4 (RC), ca. 7 years old, which shows no fogging (stored at RT). A Roll of Multigrade2 was severely fogged though.
Yes, paper expires. Fog starts to grow. Fixed grade papers get softer and variable contrast papers start to loose max. achievable contrast.

For fog you can use restrainers, KBr or Benzotriazol if the paper is worth it. Another use for fogged paper is lith printing.

 

[Tom A]

I find that if the bag is sealed (i.e unopened box) it will last for at least 6-7 years. If the bag has been opened some papers do show significant fogging quickly (Kodak more than Ilford).
When you use Benzo as a "fog cutter" - the 10ml/1% solution/liter developer works fine. Adding more can seriously slow down the paper speed. I have tried 15ml and even 25 ml (50 year old Varigam paper - exposures went from 15 sec to 1-2 minutes!!!!! - and that was 5x7" paper.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Would tray bleaching help cut back on paper that shows fog?

 

[cliffpov]

Interesting thread. Nice to know it makes a difference if the box is sealed or not Tom. Does anyone know if fiber based paper fogs more, less, or about the same as RC paper?

 

[john_s]

Would tray bleaching help cut back on paper that shows fog?

Yes!

I have tested some Ilford Multigrade that was made just before MG_4 came out. It was stored in temperate room conditions. It shows no fog, but it has lost a large part of its contrast range. So I use it for contrasty negatives*, but I have to be careful as it can get a bit muddy (not fog).

* The contrasty negs date from the days when I followed manufacturers' exposure and dev recommendations. Now I expose more and dev less.