I have, over the years, accumulated quite a supply of unused photo paper - and have decided that its time for this old stock to "fish or cut bait!"
This is just an initial (partial) test - dividing pared paper stock into "just fix" and "develop/stop/fix" categories. Developer used is fresh Moersch 4812 - which has a great D-Max capacity. All of these paper stocks measure 16x20. All are fiber based, with glossy finish.
I will later do further "real world" testing (making actual prints from a full scale negative) using any papers which pass this first test.
Here are some results: (all below as compared to a new-paper - new Ilford VC "Classic" - control in each category)
All papers in the "Fix Only" category are brilliant white.
Develop/Stop/Fix:
"Old" (early 1990's) Oriental Bromide - Grade 2: A bit grey (darn - I have 40 sheets of this, and I loved this paper back in the day)
Zone 6 Brilliant Bromide (mid 90's?) - Grade 2: A bit grey - but whiter than the Oriental.
Zone 6 Brilliant Bromide (mid 90's?) - Grade 3: Still a bit grey - but whiter than the above. (time to uncork the benzotriazole?)
Zone 6 Brilliant VC - III (latest rendition of Zone 6 polycontrast) - Brilliant White! (a pleasant surprise!)
Forte Elegance Polywarmtone (thrown in as part of a Zone 6 enlarger purchase) - Brilliant White! This comes as great news...as I have 45 sheets of this (16x20!). My guess is that its about 15 to 20 years old, but if someone can chime in with production dates, that would be great.
I'm sharing the above info. due to my great surprise that the Bromide papers have shown more degradation than the Polycontrast papers, despite the fact that all have been stored in the same (cool but unrefrigerated) conditions. I would not have expected this, the Poly paper's slightly newer vintage notwithstanding. At any rate...I'll soon share further results of "full scale" testing. (I'm especially excited by the prospect of eventually souping the Forte Polywarmtone in some Moersch SE-6 cool tone developer, a formula which works wonders with Ilford's current warm tone paper).
Bookmarks