A few weeks ago I asked here if anyone knew what was happening with Bromofort. It is the coldest tone paper I've ever used and I like it quite a bit for some applications. I also sent a message to Forte and got this response:

From: Janice Wendt To: "Erik Ryberg" Cc: Cindy Wesolowski ; Attila Olle ; forte@dunaweb.hu Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 9:39 AM Subject: RE: Bromofort discontinued? > Dear Eric, > >Due to low sales in the United States this paper is no longer imported into the United States. We have however a large stock of paper still available. Please check out our Web site at omega.satter.com for a wide selection of Forte Bromofort papers. > >If the paper you are interested in is not available on our web site, the paper you require may be special ordered in full case lot quantities of a single paper type. There will be a minimum order of three cases of paper per special order that may consist of different sizes (one size per case). These special orders will be filled by Forte tying in with production of Bromofort papers manufactured for other countries. Expected delivery will be a minimum of 8-12 weeks depending on Forte Bromofort production and container shipping dates. Due to the overwhelming conversion of Forte Bromofort users to the cooler tones and excellent performance of Polygrade V papers the demand for Bromofort is not sufficient to maintain stock in the USA warehouse. We are willing to accommodate any special order that fulfills the above mentioned order requirements. Please note that all special orders of Forte paper are Prepaid and non-cancelable. Please feel free to contact me with any further questions at: Janice Wendt Omega/Satter 3888 E. 45th Ave. Suite 230 Denver, Co 80216 Tele: 303-399-7493 FAX: 303-322-8152 Best Regards, Janice Wendt Product Manager -----Original Message----- From: Forte [mailto:forte@dunaweb.hu] Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 11:31 AM To: Janice Wendt Cc: Cindy Subject: Fw: Bromofort discontinued?

----- Original Message ----- >From: "Erik Ryberg" >To: >Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2001 1:46 AM >Subject: Bromofort discontinued? > > >> Hello, >> >> I am a big fan of your Bromofort paper, but my supplier tells me it has been discontinued. Is it true? Has Bromofort been discontinued in the US? >> >> Thank you. >> >> Erik Ryberg >

> >Dear Janice, > > >How should I react? It seemed to us that there was a demand for Bromofort papers even during PMA! > Please think it over, and keep me advised as well as that possible customer. >Thanks. > > >Best regards, > >Attila >

I am interested that Janice stated that Polygrade V is a "cooler" paper than Bromofort. I suppose I'll go try some, but I have a feeling she meant to say "warmer."

-- Erik Ryberg (ryberg@seanet.com), February 27, 2001

Answers

"in full case lot quantities of a single paper type. There will be a minimum order of three cases of paper per special order that may consist of different sizes (one size per case)." seems like a lot of paper to me.

Check to see if there is a different importer into Canada. If so, perhaps they continue to offer it.

If not that, try Oriental Seagull. Not as cold, in my book as Bromofort, but a very "neutral to cold" tone. My favorite paper image tone was Kodak Velox, which is long gone. It was the only Kodak paper I know of advertised with a blue-black image tone. Oriental Seagull is a close match (from memory).

-- Charlie Strack (charlie_strack@sti.com), February 27, 2001.

Has anyone tried the new Ilford cold tone paper?

-- david clark (doclark@yorku.ca), February 27, 2001.

I've tried Polygrade V (in Polymax T, a.k.a. Dektol) and it was ICE cold. Almost, but not quite, as cold as Azo in Dektol. Don't know how it compares to Bromofort, since I have no experience with that paper.

-- Sal Santamaura (bc_hill@qwestinternet.net), February 28, 2001.

Sal,

Well, that's good news. Bromofort is colder than Azo in Dektol in my view (and a whole lot easier to use!) but it sounds as if I may be able to live with the Polygrade V product once my stash of Bromofort is used up. Bromofort is extremely blue. I wish more people had tried it.

-- Erik Ryberg (ryberg@seanet.com), February 28, 2001.

Try PolygradeV in Agfa Multicontrast developer-- Very blue/black image tone, much cooler than with Dektol or undiluted Ethol LPD, both of which tend towards a slightly more green-brownish tone. Toning in very dilute selenium tends to reduce this difference, of course, and the blue/black tone of the agfa developer is elimanted as well. I've haven't compared the polygradeV/agfa combination side by side with Azo, but from my recollection of some azo prints I saw a few years ago, to me, it has a similar "look". Now I need to get some azo so I can try it!

-- Vishal Mathur (vmathur57@hotmail.com), February 28, 2001.

Dave Clark...I've tried the Ilford Cooltone RC paper and have liked what I see. It is cold. I can imagine using it for some apoplications but not others.

Cheers,

RR

-- Robb Reed (reed@nhrc.navy.mil), February 28, 2001.

Try the Bergger NB. It can be difficult to find due to past distribution problems but is worth the effort. Addorama in NYC has started to stock limited amounts.

-- Steve Wiley (wiley@mail.accesshub.net), March 01, 2001.

If you want to search further afield try Silverprint in London. Their website is www.silverprint.co.uk. You can download their catalogue. They usually stock the entire range of Forte papers.

-- Adrian Twiss (avtwiss@ukonline.co.uk), March 21, 2001.

If you like cold/blue tones try Forte Polygrade and develop in P72. This is a David Vestal suggestion, it's D72 with phenidone and benzotriazole instead of metol and KBr. If you find it too blue then selenium toning may "cool" the blue somewhat. I like it. Good luck

-- Hans Berkhout (berkhout@cadvision.com), March 22, 2001.