jpa66
Jan as in "Jan and Dean"
So I just started back in the darkroom after a much too long absence. I'm fortunate enough to have some Portriga Rapid and Brovira from my darkroom days ( the paper's around 14 years old ). I tried a bit of each of the papers to see if they were still OK, and I really can't tell. The photos don't look like they have much contrast, and no "whites", but I've used long-expired paper in the past, and all I got was muddy gray tones. This stuff doesn't look that bad - it just doesn't look very good.
After development, the unexposed part of the paper ( all of it ) remains white. My recollection of the expired paper I used in the past was that the unexposed parts turned gray.
I'll be experimenting more on Wednesday, and I'll also have some new paper to compare the quality. So, am I crazy, or has the paper gone around the bend?
Or has it just been so long since I've been in the darkroom that I've de-volved into a rank amateur?
After development, the unexposed part of the paper ( all of it ) remains white. My recollection of the expired paper I used in the past was that the unexposed parts turned gray.
I'll be experimenting more on Wednesday, and I'll also have some new paper to compare the quality. So, am I crazy, or has the paper gone around the bend?
Or has it just been so long since I've been in the darkroom that I've de-volved into a rank amateur?
jmcd
Well-known
You certainly have not "devolved into a rank amateur." No way!
As paper gets old contrast goes flat, and prints looks so ho-hum.
Get some new paper! The Arista Edu Ultra paper (among others which are also great) from Freestyle Sales is awesome, and priced great.
As paper gets old contrast goes flat, and prints looks so ho-hum.
Get some new paper! The Arista Edu Ultra paper (among others which are also great) from Freestyle Sales is awesome, and priced great.
jpa66
Jan as in "Jan and Dean"
Thanks.
I figured the prints would lose some contrast, but I was hoping that since the prints weren't too bad ( and the negatives I used weren't perfectly exposed ) that it might be something else. I really love those papers, and was totally bummed-out when I discovered that they were gone. Oh, well...
I do have some Ilford Multi-grade as well as some Kentmere Fineprint paper coming from Freestyle. I'm going to give them a whirl on Wednesday. If the Arista is fibre-based, I'll give it a go.
I figured the prints would lose some contrast, but I was hoping that since the prints weren't too bad ( and the negatives I used weren't perfectly exposed ) that it might be something else. I really love those papers, and was totally bummed-out when I discovered that they were gone. Oh, well...
I do have some Ilford Multi-grade as well as some Kentmere Fineprint paper coming from Freestyle. I'm going to give them a whirl on Wednesday. If the Arista is fibre-based, I'll give it a go.
MartinP
Veteran
Have a good look at lightleaks and safelighting, plus using chemistry that isn't also fourteen years old too of course ! Good luck 