New Premium Silver Paper from Ilford: Art 300

One of the distinct strangenesses of my life these days is that TOP is almost so successful that I no longer have enough time to write for it. Any more going on behind the scenes, and the blog itself will become an arid wasteland with nothing on it. I assume that problem would eventually become self-correcting, but it's weird anyway. Right now, for example, we're in high gear preparing for the print sale, which involves a lot of planning; and, amazingly I think, Peter Turnley arrived in Cairo just in time for Mubarak's resignation and the explosion of celebration that followed it. I'm amazed at that—I've been in constant contact with Peter over the past week, looking on as he went through his decision-making process for a trip he knew would last only a few days, as he was trying to guess when the "visual peak" of the action would come. He hit it like a hammer hits a nail. That's not luck, that's a gift—what they call "a nose for news" and instincts honed by decades of experience. He had basically just hit Tahrir Square with his cameras when the news broke like a big wave over the crowds.

The above is an excuse: I haven't had time to research this post. 

But here's the short take. Harman Technology Ltd., in association with the German papermaker Hahnemühle, has announced its first new traditional photo paper in 13 years. Ilford Multigrade Art 300 is the culmination of 18 months of development with input from more than 150 fine art black-and-white photographers from around the globe. It's a variable-contrast silver gelatin paper with a neutral paper base and a warm-neutral image tone and a heavy 300 gsm weight. The surface is variously described as "matt" [sic—the proper spelling is matte] and "eggshell," yet early reports from beta testers (none of whom I've talked to—see above) say it has excellent Dmax (for the benefit of you darkroom virgins out there, the traditional knock against matte papers is weak Dmax, or maximum density—i.e., the blackness of the blacks). Art 300 is evidently an attempt by Ilford to create a no-holds-barred, premium, line-leading product for top quality fine art printmaking.

We'll definitely test it...eventually. It goes on sale in Great Britain in early April.

Mike
(Thanks to many readers)

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Original contents copyright 2011 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[Walter Glover]

Hmmm, the Durst L1200 is residing in storage - safely protected and periodically lusted over. Could a new paper such as this release it from its dotage? reinvigorate it with the zeal of youth? I wonder.

The control of the output with the digital process is facile and extensive. The range of papers available is expansive. For years now I have revelled in the "best of both worlds" utopia of shooting 4x5 negs, scanning and ink-jet output. Yeah, I know an ink-jet ain't no silver print but then it must be realised also that the sharpness of a silver print isn't quite what an ink-jet print is.

But good on Ilford (Harman) for giving it a go. Choice with a range of options can only be a good thing.

Cheers,

Walter

[Paul Van]

The new Ilford paper is exciting news - any word on North American availability and pricing?

[Mike Johnston]

Paul,
Pricing is said to be "a little more" than Ilford Warmtone FB. I don't know when it's slated for release here. And I should have mentioned, it will be available in sizes from 8x10 to 20x24, and rolls.

Mike

[Jeff Warden]

I just set up my first darkroom and have happily exchanged printing for sleep. I am very happy to read this news.

[carl frederick]

Please, we don't need another "arid wasteland" on the internet.

cfw

[Dennis Ng]

May try to ask relative coming from uk to my little darkroom to buy a few. But ...

Rolls?

Self learner like me does not know what to do with roll. How large is this? Cut to do testing? .... For very large print only? How to process it? ... Have to get out of bed to check this out.

[Mathew D. Hargreaves]

The timeing could not better as it around the end of April I will get the overhauled Rolleiflex back from Oceanside. I am looking forward to all the new poosiblilities in printing.

[WeeDram]

It has been a long time since there was a consensus on a paper considered as reference standard. If this even comes close, it will be welcome.

[Dennis Huteson]

Mike the correct spelling of matt is matt and is derived from the french 'mat' and came into usage in the English language in the seventeenth century. 'Matte' is an American derivation, just as 'color' is an American derivation of the English word 'colour'.

[Mike Johnston]

Dennis,
In that case you should spell the "English" word "Couleur."

Mike

[Paul Van]

There's a copy of the announcment posted on APUG.
http://www.apug.org/forums/forum172/87351-new-ilford-paper.html

They mention sizes will from 5x7 to 20x24, in boxes of 10/15/30/50.

[John MacKechnie]

Now this is interesting. It's been a long time since we darkroom folks had something new to play with. I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

[Will Whitaker]

This is indeed exciting news. I'm impressed with Ilford/Harman's commitment to the medium and look forward with giddy delight to having a premium paper as I move back into the darkroom after too long a hiatus. Thank you Ilford!

[christian kurmann]

Mike, Can you clear a bit of trivia for me.
I know that Ilford has it's main site near Fribourg Switzerland.
http://www.ilford.com/en/contact/contact.asp
However there also seems to be a Ilford Harman which once belonged to ciba (making for a swiss connection) but now belongs to Harman again which is based in England.
http://www.ilfordphoto.com/aboutus/page.asp?n=139
Are these companies the same? And what does Hahnemühle have to do with this?
I would very much appreciate a short run down of the companies actually making all the lovely Printer foto paper.
It's seems to be that there are many product names but not so many companies behind all of this.
Aside from basic interest my goal is a very selfish one. I would like to get the paper cheaper and knowledge of who makes what would help direct my search.

[erlik]

Dennis, in UK English the correct spelling of the surface quality is apparently mat. And "matt" is a variant.

Matte is something else.

[Jacco de Kraker]

I've been lucky enough to get a printed sample from a fellow photographer (who was a "beta-tester" for this paper), thanks to the Postcard Exchange over at http://www.apug.org . The surface is absolutely lovely.

I can't wait (well, I can, obviously; I'll have to...) to try the paper myself. I don't think the surface will work for each and every subject, but for the right subjects, I imagine it will be great.

[Bruno Masset]

Im deutschsprachigen Raum ist die richtige Schreibweise auch "matt".

MfG,

Max Mustermann
Marketing & Communications
Papierfabrik Hahnemühle

;-)

(Editor's note: my auto-translate app translates this as "In the German-speaking countries the correct way of writing is also 'matte.' " [sic] :-) --Mike)