How to make the best silver rich contact print paper?

[Tin Can]

I don't know how.

Do you?

Please point us in the right direction.

A few want to know.:)

[bob carnie]

MAS makes very nice contact prints, starting with him is a good point.

[Tin Can]

MAS makes very nice contact prints, starting with him is a good point.

Who is MAS? Seems it's not https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/mas?ltr=1

[David Lobato]

You mean hand coated paper?

[Willie]

http://www.michaelandpaula.com is the website for Michael A. Smith and Paula Chamlee. They bring Lodima contact printing paper to market.

"Silver rich" is more marketing than anything else. Plenty of papers through the years have been excellent while not having as dense an amount of silver as others.

[Tin Can]

You mean hand coated paper?

Yes and no.

Yes, hand coated is fine, perhaps it's just layers. I don't know.

Or some sort of roller machine coater.

I worked in a factory where we did all kinds of coatings to paper, metal and plastic. Some very thin Teflon, sprayed on. All Rube as can be, but made by mortals, not Gods. Impossible does it.

Sooner or later it may come down to a cottage industry.

[bob carnie]

Who is MAS? Seems it's not https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/mas?ltr=1

Sorry Michael A Smith google Lodima

[Tin Can]

Sorry Michael A Smith google Lodima

Thanks. I have Lodima I have yet to use.

Saving the good stuff...

For a worthy neg.

[Michael R]

Get Ron Mowrey's emulsion book and/or take the course at Eastman, and make your own Azo-type paper.

Just be aware "silver rich" is marketing hype and does not correlate with tone reproduction.

[Tin Can]

Get Ron Mowrey's emulsion book and/or take the course at Eastman, and make your own Azo-type paper.

Just be aware "silver rich" is marketing hype and does not correlate with tone reproduction.

I didn't know P.E. Ron Mowrey had a book. I will seek it.

Eastman is just too expensive when I consider travel, lodging and tuition. I am retired on a tiny income.

I do follow Denise Ross ideas. http://www.thelightfarm.com/

I have and read Ross's book http://www.blurb.com/b/6465389-the-light-farm.

I want to hear what others are doing.

[bob carnie]

Hi Randy

Ron is a really nice fellow, I met him at George Eastman House a few years back and he graciously got us behind the scenes so to speak, was able to talk with Mark Osterman and spend a wonderful 4 hours looking at their lab
, Rons silver coated emulsions on various paper.

Denise Ross would be awesome to follow as well.

I am happy with the offerings of manufactured silver paper, but am very happy these two workers have shared up their combined Knowledge on how to make silver emulsions.

I am big on Gum Colour these days, in fact today have made two killer prints IMO that I am really happy with..
The path of making hand prints is a long and steep learning curve , but once you get past a certain point the world becomes your Oyster.

I have gone down many paths but for me duotone and tri tone gum is the answer , as well I am solarizing digital negatives to make prints which is super fun.

keep seeking you will find your right path

Bob

[Tin Can]

Bob,

I may or may not find my way. I'm an old beat up dog. New tricks are difficult. I know I was a better photographer and darkroom printer 20 years ago. Wasted a lot of time with DSLR, which I still use nearly daily...

I do like the new Ilford SG paper I use and have enough old SG paper for some time. I got a stack of AZO from an abandoned Detroit darkroom. It works fine, like the Lodima, I am saving both for a better project.

Thanks!

[bob carnie]

I can tell you Randy that Gum printing is simple fun and not crazy on the pocketbook, It is perfect for small darkroom spaces.

[Tin Can]

I can tell you Randy that Gum printing is simple fun and not crazy on the pocketbook, It is perfect for small darkroom spaces.

I tried Gum last summer. My first one was beyond bad. I am trying Salt prints when it warms up. I'll go back to Gum then also as now I have the chems. Although I learned online that air temp does not matter for exposure! Interesting.