Re: Fate of Silver Gelatin Paper

[Elgenper <elgenper@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, sad news from a nostalgic point of view (and, of course, for all 
the dismissed workers).  Ilford has been a staunch supporter of B/W, 
and a reliable supplier of top-notch materials.  Bergger was stunningly 
good (stopped working in silver 2 years ago),  Forte not my cup of tea, 
and "the new Agfa" (after the demise of Record Rapid and Portriga) was 
unreliable drugstore stuff.  So, Ilford and Bergger it was ´til the end 
for me.

Now to the point: much to my own surprise, I don´t miss those silver 
prints at all, not even when getting a box of old ones out to review.  
After I learnt to ink-print with my 2100 and the QuadToneRip, on Ilford 
(there, again!) Premier Glossy or Epson Enhanced Matte, I get the same 
tactile feeling and great tonality as with my very best (and 
far-between) keeper silver prints, carefully toned.  Only, now I get it 
every time, as long as the original file is up to it, and I have full 
control over what I do.

As for hand crafted, getting what I´m after in Photoshop is every bit 
as "handsy-craftsy" as dodging, burning, toning, spotting & c, only the 
tools are different.  And, yes, the prints stay FLAT instead of curling 
up, I don´t have to inhale darkroom fumes and rinse in running water 
half the night, and....  I LOVE MY MAC! I LOVE MY EPSON!  Forgive 
me....


Per Öfverbeck
http://foto.ofverbeck.se


2004-12-14 kl. 07.09 skrev SteveS:

> Just heard tonight that Ilford employees went from 300 to SIX, just 
> six employees, now.
>  
> General consensus is that the smaller companies like Bergger and 
> Forte, maybe the new Agfa will continue the art.
>  
> The rumor is about some new to be released in the US paper that was/is 
> popular in Europe will become available.
>  
> Again, it's a matter of the joy of a hand crafted print or the thrill 
> of an image.
> ....