Info about Kodak Polymax Papers

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I was recently told during a discussion of recent improvements in print papers that Kodak Polymax was developed by Kodak with close consultation by John Sexton. True?

Any one out there who has tried polymax MG FB paper and thinks it is a major step forward for Kodak papers?

A long time Ilford MG user.

-- Gene (nikonguy@emji.net), April 01, 1999

Answers

The last time I tried it (last year) it was awful! Lacked brilliance and aged VERY quickly. Opened boxes of paper store in a cool, dry environment fogged in a few months. Other friends who are fine printers complained of similar problems.

Stick with the Ilford. Or try Brilliant VC III from Calumet, Oriental VC, Forte, or Bergger. All are far superior in my experience.

-- James D. Steele (jdsteele@erols.com), April 05, 1999.


I've been printing on the Polymax FA for the last three years and I'd have to say its an excellent paper although its a bit like a gallon of milk meaning you need to use it up quickly because it has a terribly short shelf life. There have also been intermittant problems with black flecks appearing in the paper base. Aside from those problems though I feel the paper is quite good Like all MC papers its difficult to get really high contrast out of it so if your negs usually print on grade 4 they'll be tough to print on Pmax FA but if you have normal contrast negs you shouldn't have any problems. Unlike Ilford and some others the Kodak paper gives a neutral to cool black rather than a warm/green black. To me, thats preferable but thats a personal choice. I use several papers including Oriental/Cachet VC, Kodak Polymax FA, & Agfa Multicontrast depending on the image and if I've printed an image on that particular paper before. Generally, the people who generalize and say "paper x is garbage" are the same people who say Car y is great and car x is trash because they drive car y. Lastly, while I'm not into idol worship you can't deny John Sexton is a master printer and if he's getting good results with it it can't be garbage. It may not be the right paper for you, but

-- Tony Mastres (mastres@id.ucsb.edu), May 27, 1999.

I have sworn off ever using Kodak papers after my experience with Polymax. I bought two batches and they both were fogged. And all Kodak would do was to replace them with even more Polymax! I also found black specks in the paper. What really gets me is that Kodak knows all of this stuff and yet they continue selling it! That is irresponsible and arrogant.

-- Doug Rhinehart (drhinehart@coloradomtn.edu), June 24, 1999.

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