andrew_rodney1 Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Just saw this over on the PDN forum. For those holding out hope that film (and other silver imaging materials) have a chance: We just posted news that Kodak has announced the end of black and white paper production, slated for the end of 2005. http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/prodtech/news/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1000962967 What do you all think about the news? How big of an announcement is this for the PDN community? -------------------- ----------------- David Schloss Technology Editor/New Products Editor Photo District News Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erickpro Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Dude, I never thought they would end the production of photo paper. Is film really to end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenbach Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Two different things here? Paper isn't film. How many of us use plenty of film though none of it ends up on traditional B&W paper? Best, Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron gregorio Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 At least they haven't stopped producing B&W film. As long as there's a market for film and there are still companies producing film cameras, then there will still be film. Companies that make film cameras would be good indicators of when film will go away since they put a lot of investment in making cameras that people may not want to/could use anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhiren Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 No its NOT ! I shoot B&w films, scan it myself and print it myself as well on my inkjet printers ... I dont't see it affecting me [at least]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marshall Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Given the growing number of people printing traditionally-captured black & white images using digital output, and especially with the reportedly great dynamic range and rich blacks of Epson's new inkset, I think what this really means that traditional output usage is shrinking faster than traditional capture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_eaton Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 I'm wondering if this includes Kodak's digital B/W paper that was slowly developing a following being that RA-4 color papers just don't work as well for greyscale images. I'd rather use the Epsons for B/W anyways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_tuthill Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Scott, if the paper you mean is "PORTRA Black & White (or Sepia) Paper RC Base for Optical and Digital Exposure RA-4 Process" then yes, its discontinuation was announced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francois_gauthier Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 Kodak was never a leader in B%W papers unlike films like Tri-X and various T-Max, and developpers like D-76 and X-tol. It has also little impact on the company. So, it is not big news. But it fits in a larger trend that worries wet lab users. Film is not about to die but we will probably have less choices and higher prices. It's hard to say what will be left in 5 years... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_eaton Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 I don't get why Kodak would kill off roll paper sales when it's fighting so furiously for market share in that market. Sheet paper, maybe.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erik scanhancer Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 I never used Kodak B&W papers. This is only good for the remaining producers of the better B&W papers. In the end we will probably all put out digitally. Like others said, the move from traditional printing to digital goes faster than the shooting from film to chip. I shoot (B&W) film very happily and put out on an inkjet system (be it a bit less happily, but it's improving). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack paradise Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 It's only the death of Kodak b&w paper. So what ? The market at this time cannot support so many players. Consolidation in the industry has already started. Traditionnal darkroom printers have so many papers to choose from, nobody will notice except Kodak paper users. I still use b&w film it but have closed dowm my darkroom some five years ago. Filmscanning and digital printing will work to keep film alive for decades. And now we hear that some of those who've sold their MF equipment are starting to regret it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven_clark Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Why should I care Ilford still makes Multigrade right? Now if they anounce they're no longer making T-Max then it's time to panic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack paradise Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Kodak and Ilford would announce that they are getting out of traditional photo that I would not worry one bit. There are countless mfg/suppliers waiting to take their market share. And just wait a few more years. Practically all traditionnal darkroom supplies will be a vailable only over the internet. And most traditional photo store who do not sell over the internet will have closed by then. But traditional photo whose market share will decraese to about 10-15% will still be alive and kicking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwrtertbsratbs5 Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 Kodak paper is awful. Who cares! Just as long as Ilford stays in business. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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