alex_hawley Posted May 19, 2003 Share Posted May 19, 2003 I'm looking for suggestions on papers and developers for 4x5 contact printing. I know the AZO/Amidol is highly favored but I don't want to invest in a 100 sheet box of 8x10 AZO yet. Anyone have any other suggestions? My negs so far are either Agfa 100/Rodinal or Tri- X/HC110B. But, I'm on the verge of trying a pyro developer with Tri- X. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_kasaian1 Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 Alex, Maybe I'm wrong about this, but unless you want to try an alternative process where you'll coat your own paper, the only other currently manufactured contact paper besides AZO that I'm aware of is Centennial "POP" paper. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_f._stein Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 Any fine enlarging paper will do-I like Forte Polywarmtone. J and C Photo is also starting to carry some specialty European papers-bromoil papers and a "semi-contact" paper from FOMA-slow speed intended for contact prints but can also be used with enlarging source. And you could try someone like Ranier Photographic in Seattle?; they may still carry AZO in 25 sheet packs. Maybe Mike Smith could start selling TESTER PACKS with several sheets of paper and enough Amidol for one or two sessions of printing??? MIKE??? GOOD QUESTION...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim_atherton2 Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 I've recently started using the Forte Polywarmtone FB museum weight too - in Agfa Neutol WA - very nice. (but FB papers just drive me nuts - it's so dry here that the damn stuff is almost curled in half before you even use it - once it been through the dev and wash and dried it's almost curled up on itself...) I know it's heresy, but I also get really nice contacts from Ilford MG IV Portfolio RC :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_a._smith1 Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 Someone replied somewhere (here or on another forum) that using Azo and Amidol will save you money because you will use far less paper. Of course, I believe it is the only way to go if you want the best results and don't want to waste incalculable amounts of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald_miller1 Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 Alex, I will strongly second the comment on Azo/Amidol as the very best for contact printing using a silver process. There simply is no comparison to conventional graded or ungraded enlarging papers.If you want to see what Azo is capable of doing, give me a call. It may be worth your time when your in town the next time. Insofar as using a Pyro developer with TriX, my experience has shown that the highlight densities block up really easily with this film. This is not a condition of pyro but rather a condition of TriX. In my system the maximum that I can develop this film with ABC is 7 1/2 minutes. If I go to 8 minutes, all of the beautiful highlight separations end up in a pile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_kasaian1 Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 Alex, I don't know what AZO is selling for these days, as I still am working on my last box of Grade 3(I suppose I'll find out soon enough when I start shooting the 12x20!) but AZO is well worth it. You can get nice prints using enlarging paper, but AZO, ...wow! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_hawley Posted May 20, 2003 Author Share Posted May 20, 2003 OK, you guys twisted my wimpy arm hard enough. AZO it will be. Thanks for the twisting! Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_a._smith1 Posted May 20, 2003 Share Posted May 20, 2003 I would suggest that you use Azo whether or not we were Azo dealers. I do hope you will consider getting your paper from me and Paula. If we are not supported, Azo will disappear. Recently, solely due to our efforts, Kodak rescinded their discontinuance of all Azo except Grade 2 in 100-sheet boxes--the only Azo product they were going to keep in the catalogue. We are committed to keeping this paper alive, but we do need everyone's support. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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