Paper Developer Recommendations?

[Xia_Ke]

Time to order up my chemicals for the darkroom. Just curious what you guys might recommend for paper chemicals to start out with. I'll be using Ilford Ilfospeed and MGIV papers. Was leaning towards Ilford Multigrade based on some other people's feedback. Thought I would post here as well and see if anyone else has any recommendations. Also thought about picking up some Harman Warmtone & Cooltone developers to play with as well. I'll be ordering from Freestyle so anything there is game.

[photophorous]

Hey Aaron,

When I did my darkroom stuff I was renting a darkroom that supplied all the chemicals, so I don't know much about the specific kinds. I was always told the kind of developer you choose is not nearly as important as it is with film. I'm not sure you'd be able to see any difference among the regular developers.

Do you have contrast filters for the enlarger? If so, I would start with multi-grade papers. The Ilford multi-grade fiber paper is very nice, but it costs more and is harder to use than RC paper. I always made lots of test prints on 5x7 RC paper, and then I would pick out the winners to print on bigger fiber paper.

Paul

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks Paul I actually have a set of filters on the way as a gift from a fellow PR member Gotta love this place! I'm not planning to use FB papers yet. The Ilfospeed I have is graded RC and I'm planning to get a box of Ilford Multigrade MGIV RC Deluxe as well. While I'm ordering, I will probably pick up a small box of FB to play with after I get a little comfortable making prints. This is mainly because I want to play with toning as well but, have read that RC paper does not take so well to toning or at least not nearly as much as FB.

[F-15_Flyer]

Do you mean that Fiber doesn't tone as well as RC?

[Xia_Ke]

Do you mean that Fiber doesn't tone as well as RC?

From what I have been reading and others have told me, RC doesn't tone as well because the toning is only in the emulsion as opposed to with FB where where it permeates into the paper..

[F-15_Flyer]

I wouldn't worry too much about that, RC tones nicely. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fiber fan, but I've found that toning fiber is harder because the tones will stain the white paper(if you have a border) and it's hard to get it back to white, sometimes impossible even.

What tones you gonna try?

Oh, I use this stuff for the paper dev, good stuff:

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_pro...pid=1000001819

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks F-15 I wanted to try selenium toning but, eventually want to play with various split toning of sepia/brown/gold with blue/selenium. I love the way a nicely toned print looks and it's another level of photography I really want to learn.

I was leaning towards Ilford Multigrade developer but, am worried about how well it keeps. Would I be better off getting the large bottle you linked to or the smaller 500ml bottles?

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_pro...at_id=&pid=472

[F-15_Flyer]

ooo selenium toning, yes, I wouldn't even do that with RC, Fiber all the way with that. Selenium will give your prints a very subtle purple tint, and up the contrast of the print a bit. It also makes your print more archiveable, which is why you'll get the most out of doing it with Fiber. shew almost mislead you there.

I didn't even think about the shelf life thing. Once opened, it'll be good for a couple months. Start with the smaller bottle, and depending on how fast you use it, step up later if needed.

Toning can be a lot of fun, I suggest copper toning as well. The best thing about most toning is that it's pretty cheap. Have fun man, as I'm sure you will. You'll have to post up those pictures after you do it all.

[Xia_Ke]

...You'll have to post up those pictures after you do it all.

You know it Once I get set up making prints, I don't think you will see me posting anything but prints. I was playing around with some negatives today in the enlarger projected onto white paper trying to plan out what I want to print first. This is going to be fun :arf: :crazy: :cornut: