Problems with Forte Neutral Tone Fiber Paper

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I purchased 100 sheets of Forte Elegance (neutral tone, variable contrast fiber paper). They were extremely fogged (tested samples from different parts of batch), and even without any exposure had a mottled gray when developed instead of white. Kind of a marbelized look. Took it back and got a replacement package, but the second had the same problem (the shop will take it back but wanted me to try out another batch). Used fresh chemicals, dimmed my safelight, etc. to eliminate other variables.

Has anyone else had this problem recently? I made my purchase in the Washington, DC area. Wondering how widespread the problem is, and whether it's limited to this one size?

-- Jim Rock (jameswrock@aol.com), December 09, 2001

Answers

Forgot to say that it was 8x10 paper, double weight.

-- Jim Rock (jameswrock@aol.com), December 09, 2001.

Forte is my paper of choice and I have recently purchased both 8x10 and 11x14 from B&H with no proplems. Sorry, but I have no useful suggestions other than it sounds like some sort of a batch contamination.

-- Arden Howell (serennisea@aol.com), December 09, 2001.

I use this paper all the time and have never had that problem. Must be a really large bad batch. Try another store and see what you get.

-- Ted Davis (teddavisphotography@hotmail.com), December 10, 2001.

I can't help but wonder if the paper got x-rayed or otherwise irradiated during shipment.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), December 10, 2001.

One of my first thoughts was that it possibly got zapped by x-rays during shipment. But the problem is so uniform and it appears to me to be more of a manufacturing problem (every sheet is uniformly mottled in a shade of gray a couple of shades below a standard gray card).

Can airport x-rays affect photographic paper?

-- Jim Rock (jameswrock@aol.com), December 11, 2001.



I use Forte Elegance iin 16x20 and larger and have never had a bad batch like you describe. I would check with your supplier and find out if they have had any other photographers feedback and where they get it shipped from. I would also agree that you might like to try another supplier. I think that there may be problems in the future with shipped film etc in the future as the airports are putting in xray machines with more power to combat terrorism and they are scanning checked luggage as well but I have not heard that they are doing it yet. Good luck. Edie

-- Edie Ross (ersr@vgernet.net), December 11, 2001.

I know you are an experienced printer but could the problem somehow be with your darkroom environment? Just a thought. Maybe test. James

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), December 11, 2001.

No. I tried fresh chemicals, dimmer light, and actually developing some of the paper without any exposure. And I have used this paper quite a bit recently without problems (it's become one of my favorite papers).

-- Jim Rock (jameswrock@aol.com), December 11, 2001.

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