RC vs. FB again

I just read in a current issue of "Photographic Technique" an article about RC paper breaking down. I am relativly new to photography and have never had any of my work shown, perhaps some day. I would like other peoples opinions and experience with using FB vs. RC papers in the event I ever hang any of my work. I don't want my prints to deteriorate like they did to the writer of the article. Is this relativly common?

I wrote a short article on this very subject several years ago, and if anyone is interested in reading it, e-mail me directly....to long to publish here. Frank

If you want them to last, go with fiber-base. I gave my parents a bunch of RC prints about 4 years ago, you know, they were easy to print up at work in my spare time. Unortunately, they framed them all very nicely. Whenever I'm at their house I cringe walking by that wall (and it's not in any sunlight), because all the prints are bleached out or blown out over time. That's with Kodak paper, then I've noticed that some of my old Ilford RC prints have turned into "sepia" prints over time, kinda turning brown, but not in a good way.

I have had no trouble with Afga's RC paper, I have prints made ten years ago which still look fine. Maybe it's their silver rich paper.

(Kodak and Ilford have reduced their silver content over the years) Anyway if you use two fixers and soak in a wash aid you should have no problems with the Afga.

Fiber papers have their problems too, excessive curling, and the need to remove all traces of the fixer. As the fixer soaks into the paper you have to use wash-aides or a long wash time to remove it or you will never achieve archival quality.

I have some RC prints that are 12 years old and still look good. Of course, they've been stored in the dark. I have 10-year-old fiber prints on my wall that look as good as they did 10 years ago. RC prints should last more than four years on display if fixed, washed and mounted archivally. But if you take either an RC or fiber print and mount it in a cheap wood-and-glass frame it will fade quickly, no matter how carefully fixed and washed.

 

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I print black-and-white three to four nights a week, and use RC paper to proof my prints before enlarging them on fiber. With most prints the differences are subtle. With a few difficult negatives I find it easier to obtain an excellent print on fiber papers.

 

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If you want to show your prints you will have to print them on fiber paper, unless it is a local amatuer show. Galleries and museums expect fiber prints, and so do their customers. If you want to have some very good prints on your walls until you decide to get more serious, RC paper will serve you well. You can always go back and print the negatives on fiber paper later.