Who makes Zone VI Brilliant paper now? Thanks, Pat

-- pat j. krentz (krentz@cci-29palms.com), January 20, 2000

Answers

Ilford manufactures both the graded and vc papers. You're better off going to Oriental...

-- Carlos R. Herrera (orders@anseladams.com), January 21, 2000.

Calumet says Brilliant VC III is made by Ilford, but the graded is not. Since Brilliant Bromide II boxes are marked "Made in EU (UK)," it's likely manufactured by Kentmere.

-- Sal Santamaura (bc_hill@qwestinternet.net), January 21, 2000.

Pat,

The original Zone VI Brilliant graded paper, marketed by Zone VI Studios, was manufactured for them by Guilleminot and Boespflug of France.

I used it for several years, and loved it. It was discontinued by Zone VI several years back, and I never have tried the new version of Brilliant. Friends tell me it's just not the same paper as the old Brilliant.

A suggestion: you might try the new line of Bergger BPF Prestige FB papers, designed by the chief chemical engineer for Guilleminot and Boespflug of France. Prestige NB graded appears to be similar to the old Brilliant from Zone VI, at least from my intial results.

It's sold by Lotus View Camera/North America. A simple search will turn it up.

Good luck, Sergio.

-- Sergio Ortega (s.ortega@worldnet.att.net), January 21, 2000.

Sergio, with all due respect I must say that if you have not tested this paper then you should refrain from passing second-hand judgments on it. I have used the new Zone VI Briliiant paper, and exactly matched some of my favorite prints made with the old Brilliant paper and the original Oriental Seagull. I have used only the graded versions so cannot offer opnions on the VC papers. At a workshop last spring I showed some prints made with the new Brilliant paper, and the other participants were quite impressed with the tonality and richness of this paper, as am I.

-- Darron Spohn (dspohn@photobitstream.com), January 24, 2000.

Darron, got your reply this AM, I must agree with you, I have been using Brilliant VC 111 for the last week and am very impressed with the quality and tonal range of this paper, I have been reluctant to give up graded papers but this matches and surpassed the abilities of the graded papers I am using (Kodabromide). Like my friend Phil Dunham says, "Why have 3 0r 4 boxes of paper laying around when one will do the job. This paper will give me any grade I need and some you can't get with graded paper. Sergio, do yourself a favor and try it, you'll like it. Phil called Ilford in N.Y. and they would not admit that they make Brilliant, but by the same token they would not deny it. Pat

-- pat j. krentz (krentz@cci-29palms.com), January 25, 2000.