Paper gone round the bend?

[jpa66]

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?

 

[jmcd]

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.

 

[jpa66]

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.

 

[MartinP]

Have a good look at lightleaks and safelighting, plus using chemistry that isn't also fourteen years old too of course ! Good luck 🙂