Thin Photographic Paper for Contact Sheets

[gary_gumanow]

I can remember printing out contact sheets on really thin paper when I was a

teenager. That was a long time ago. Now I'm burning through my thick stuff for

contact sheets and am addicted to printing them. I travel 100% of the time for

work and take my contact prints with me to study on the plane. It is the time

that I do my shot selections. So if you see a guy on a plane looking at black

and white contact sheets, you'll know its me.

 

My question is this: Does anyone know what paper I can buy that would be

thinner, lighter weight-wise, and less expensive than Ilford Multigrade IV-RC

glossy? Doesn't have to be glossy, but shouldn't be fiber either. Multigrade

would be nice.

 

 

Thanks,

Gary

[Fotohuis RoVo]

http://www.foma.cz/Upload/foma/prilohy/F_speed_412_en.pdf

 

Maybe Freestyle L.A., otherwise you have to order in the Czech Republic:

http://www.fotoskoda.cz/default.asp?ids=356&idm=312&lang=eng

[rustys pics]

Freestyle is a good place to check. I believe they sell Slavich papers now, and they have a product called "Document Weight" which also means single weight. I used to love the old Kodak Single weight papers. Alas no more.

[jonathan_forbes]

If you can find it in your area, I think Mitsubishi Gekko RC paper would satisfy your needs. Freestyle mentions it on their site:

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/techtips_det.php?id=10

I couldn't find it in their catalog, but you might try emailing them about availability, this has worked for me in the past with other items. Otherwise the place I know I can find it is at Kull and Company:

http://www.kullphoto.com/studentphotosupplies.htm

in Auburn, WA.

[frank.schifano]

For contact sheets, a good resin coated ,variable grade paper is the ticket. If you're in the US, the best price I've seen for RC, VC paper is from Freestyle. Look at the Arista.EDU Ultra papers. Very economical, despite the recent price hike. They are rebadged Foma papers, and are a little thinner than Ilford MG IV and a lot lighter on the wallet.

 

Both these photos were printed on this paper. The first was shot on Tri-x; the second and third were shot on PanF+.

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/fschifano/ConeyIsland/photo#5113817410377169586

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/fschifano/FloydBennettHangarB/photo#5113816147656784546

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/fschifano/FloydBennettHangarB/photo#5111605980076977682

[craig_shearman1]

If you don't want RC it has to be fiber -- that's what non-RC paper is called. Glossy or not has nothing to do with the weight of the paper. But RC has been the standard for contacts since RC came out because contacts are supposed to be quick and easy prints. Fiber (aka regular paper) has to be washed longer, has to be dried on a dryer and tends to curl very easily. Even if you got thinner paper the curl could make it end up taking more space. And how much difference can thickness make unless you're carrying around a full 500-sheet box?

[gary_gumanow]

Thanks all for your suggestions. I will check these out. I checked with my favorite local shop in Portland and they had some out of date Ilford RC stuff that I use for my other printing... sale price. I want something that is lighter and cheaper so that I can take them with me. I print out about 20 contact sheets to take with me when I travel, in order to stay connected with my photography while I work away from home, which is about 95% of the time. Oh, I dislocated my shoulder a few weeks ago so every once that I don't have to lug around makes a big difference.

 

I will check out the czech stuff... no pun intended!

 

Thanks,

Gary