Howdy friends! I own a vintage photobooth rental service. Does anyone know where can I find or manufacture direct positive roll paper? I currently purchase my paper from 2 different companies. 1 in the US and the other in Canada. I'm sure both distributers purchase their paper from the same compnay in Russia, or somewhere in Eastern Europe...? For good reason, both distributors are tight-lipped about what compnay produces the paper. And, by the time I get it, it's repackaged. Initially, I thought it was made by Slavich, but FreeStyle photo checked it our for me... they couldn't find it. I'd like to identify another source for this paper, since I buy a lot of it. And if I could buy it cheaper, great too! A few people have suggested I make some contacts in China to have them "reverse engineer" and manufactuer it? Any thoughts? Anyone know where I can track this paper down outside of where I get it now? Anyone know a compnay that will coat custom stock in roll form? I'd be willing to go to China, but have zero contacts...

FYI: The roll thickness is about 1.5" thick. Check the picture included, showing the film magazine. Also note, the paper has to be in roll form to work in the machine....

http://photoboof.com/galleries/old_booth/DSCN8256booth_innards_overv.jpg

http://photoboof.com/galleries/old_booth/DSCN8246.jpg

See my post on another thread.

Papers not really the problem at all, you can get around speed & contrast variation, getting it slit is.

Ian

What about the Fotokemika Efke direct positive paper at Freestyle?

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=1000002933

It's weird they wouldn't point you in that direction, but then again, maybe they ARE the distributors to the other places... ?

See my post on another thread.

Papers not really the problem at all, you can get around speed & contrast variation, getting it slit is.

Ian

A cheap mini lathe, a parting tool, bull nose center, IR goggles and a roll of paper....

Viola...

That's gross overkill :D

I think many labs once use very simple tools to slit 8mm cine film, which was 16mm exposed twice :D

Ian

Yeah, I have one of those slitters, but the design won't do him any good.

An improvised lathe would work too.

So if I blag some Kodak paper for him - you'll slit it ?

Ian

What size roll are you talking about?

What are the tolerance parameters?

How much? How often?

If this is going to be a commercial venture, then we need to take it to email! ;)

Thanks for all the replies... I was away from the computer for a few days, so just saw these replies. I'm not sure what you mean by tolerances for the paper...? When it comes to the mechanics of the machines, I'm a whiz! But I'm not up on exact properties of the paper.... As for a commercial venture, I'm game for any suggestions. There's also a small niche market to sell this paper. It's not huge, but it does exist.... and it's fun, so not so bad! My email is available on my profile, so feel free to hit me up. I'm open to all suggestions... -ant

What about the Fotokemika Efke direct positive paper at Freestyle?

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=1000002933

It's weird they wouldn't point you in that direction, but then again, maybe they ARE the distributors to the other places... ?
the Fotokemika Efke paper at FreeStyle is sheet.... but I'll see if I can go to them directly for roll??
-Ant

Tolerance, as in, dimensions of the paper. What width, + or - the nominal, will the machine transport?

Yes, it comes in sheet form from Freestyle, but Efke makes it in master rolls; contact them directly for possible roll lengths.

Sorry about the delay in reply... my internet has been going in an out for the last week. Got AT&T coming today to take a look...grrr. The paper is roughly 1.5" wide on a 12-14" dia. spool. The center hole is about 3". These are rough dimensions. I'd have to open up a pack to get the exact measurements. I'll try to contact Efke.... but if you're serious about cutting this stuff for me, and know how to do it, we should chat via phone or email. Best! -Anthony

Hi Anthony,

I have a converter that i work with up in NY. He specializes in paper and film. He did some of the Ilford way back when.
I can put you in contact with him if you are interested.

Best,

Kino, I'm not familiar with the chemistry that your photobooth uses to process the direct positive paper; but I know what I've done to make direct in-camera portraits using the Efke paper. I would first recommend buying a pack of the Efke paper direct from Freestyle and experiment with it in your machine before commiting lots of time and dollars. It may, or may not, be a direct replacement for your application. You could cut strips in the darkroom, tape them together, and make a small spool, enough to do tests.

Also, if it works, perhaps you could point us alternative darkroom workers in the right direction for processing this paper, as there may be an optimal developing agent that we may be unfamiliar with. I'm also assuming that the photo booth uses a 'one-shot' processing regimen, where the developer and fix are in one solution; or does the machine run it through two seperate solutions?

I'm not in the market to compete with traditional photo booths (there are none that I know if in my community); rather, I'd like to do seated street portraits, and process the prints on-site.

~Joe