Have acquired several boxes of very expired enlarging paper. Dates on boxes 1980s and 1990s. Storage conditions unknown. Want to use them, so I figured I'd start with exposing a sheet from each box with a step wedge and process for a normal development time. The gray scale showed me the D-max and D-min of he paper. Surprisingly most sheets from most boxes are possibly useable (gray scales a start) but with some sheets (boxes) there is a little bit of "fog" density in the highlights. Way back in the 1970s vaguely remember adding some chemical to the developer to have the whites come out pure white, but can't remember what I added to the developer. Other option I've used in the way past was to ever so slightly bleach prints in a very weak solution of potassium ferrocyanide after the fix. Don't remember how I stopped the bleaching action, possibly returning the paper to the fixer - I believe W. Eugene Smith did this when he was selectively bleaching parts of his prints.
All my notes as to using expired paper long last lost or thrown away.
Does anyone out there have any advice?
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