Kentmere Select VC RC paper

[biglewsmi]

Hello everyone,
I recently decided to give Kentmere Select VC RC paper a try based on hearing that it gives very deep blacks and freestyle's description that it gives "cool crisp prints." I developed it using Arista Ultra Black developer and the results are far from cool toned. In fact there are no try blacks anywhere in the print, it is just a warm brown tone. I am considering sending this box of paper back, but before I do I wanted to see what others have have found when they tried this paper. I'm thinking maybe there is a problem with this paper and developer combo perhaps. Anyway, what are your thoughts and opinions on the this paper or this problem. Thanks in advance.

G. Lewis Smith

[Gem Singer]

The problem is not the paper.

It's the combination of paper and developer.

Try another developer.

[Andrew O'Neill]

Test it under your enlarger without any filtration or negative by making a test strip. Develop. If still no blacks, try another developer, like good old dectol. If again still no blacks, it's most likely the paper. I once had the same problem with Forte VC. In the end, it was the paper.

[dncswclds]

I have never had problems with Kentmere paper. Are you sure it is not your developer ?
It is one of my favorite pprs. Very nice blacks.

[biglewsmi]

I think I'll keep the paper and order some Dektol and give it a try with that. Thanks everybody.

GL Smith

[matthew klos]

i like that paper, i use it for contacting all my negatives. I always use dektol. Ilford makes it don't they?

[biglewsmi]

I tried this paper this weekend with dektol, and I liked it very much. So, for the record Kentmere paper and Arista Ultra Black developer is a terrible combination.