Ilford FB 'Digital' silver gelatin paper

[Bruce Watson]

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/pressroom/latest.asp

I never thought I would see this. Good for Ilford for serving a market for FB photopaper that didn't have a supplier. Clever, this, and I suspect good marketing sense too.

[Helen B]

Press release

Oops, sorry. Bruce Watson has already mentioned this in the 'Product Availability' forum - I didn't expect to see a hybrid product there.

[David A. Goldfarb]

Oops, sorry. Bruce Watson has already mentioned this in the 'Product Availability' forum - I didn't expect to see a hybrid product there.

I've merged them.

[colivet]

Is tha all? I want to see prints. Is there any lab offering them?

[leeturner]

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/pressroom/latest.asp

I never thought I would see this. Good for Ilford for serving a market for FB photopaper that didn't have a supplier. Clever, this, and I suspect good marketing sense too.

Even better, if it sells in bucketloads then there is a guarantee of supply for our traditional FB papers.
It was mentioned at the Ilford factory tour that one of the reasons photographers have been after this paper is collectors will pay a lot more for images produced on traditional FB papers than for inket/digital papers.

[Harry Lime]

Ilford just announced a FIBER based b/w paper for laser photo printers such as the Lightjet. It is called ILFORD GALERIE FB DIGITAL and you can read all about it here:

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/pressroom/article.asp?n=53

Personally I think this is a very smart move by Ilford as there currently is no such paper available from another manufacturer. Fuji Crystal Archive and the other papers currently used in these machines are of the RC type and not really designed for black and white work from the outset. My black and white Lightjet prints have never been truly neutral in their tone and I've always disliked the plastic RC look. But my spare time is limited and I had to make a choice between shooting and traditional printing and shooting won. But this could be a dream come true.

[David A. Goldfarb]

...and I've merged the third new thread on this topic into this one.

[Les McLean]

I've seen it and had a couple of my own images printed on it and IMO it is an excellent product and represents a big step forward for those who wish to make prints using digital methods. I could see little difference from a traditional print made from the same negative that was scanned. I also agree with the comment about it being good sense on Ilford's part for it can only help them consolidate their business and continue to produce the traditional methods which is the core of the business.

[Bob Carnie]

We are using this product in our lab using our Lambda 76 exposing unit.

Initial observations are that it is a nice weight, lovely tone with Dectol 1:2, tones agressively with sepia and selenium toner.*this was a suprise to me since the paper to my understanding is Galerie grade 4 with an extended red sensitivitey.

We have been printing with Agfa Classic on the Lambda for a couple of years now from scanned negatives, prints and from original digital capture.

What we have found is that if you do a dead nuts comparison from a enlarger print in glass from the original negative, and then do a same size lambda print from the a scan of the same *whether it be Tango,Imogan, ect. with no extensive PS magic * you will find the enlarger print to be slightly sharper.
But by using the tools in PS and a traditional approach to split printing , you can make a file from this scan and when both prints are put side by side under gallery lights you will be very hard pressed to pick out which one was done by which method.
We have also found out that if you use high end digital capture and traditional capture of the same image , then make prints to mimic each other *enlarger and lambda* it will then be impossible to determine which print is which, even at 30x40inch size.

Ilfords decision to produce this paper , in my opinion , is a brilliant move on their part.

This new paper has an extended red sensitivitey that forces the technicians to develop in the dark*small pain, thanks Ilford* but what we are finding that sets it apart from lets say a Agfa Classic or Ilford Warmtone is that we now print in RGB rather than greyscale and for digital capture and scans from colour negatives the paper reacts much the same like Panalure would under the enlarger.
The different hues of colour now separate well and I believe the main intent of Ilford is to excite the young students graduating from college with their laptops and cannon D1's .
Merging a world class fibre paper and young creative minds , is a wonderful experience and we are very thankful to Ilford to have the vision to produce this new and exciting product.


Am I an advertisment for Ilford , you are damm right, this emulsion will help us move forward with payment of a very expensive piece of technology*Lambda* that at my age I never thought I would expect to need.
This marrying of new and old emuslions and lasers , has far reaching implications for me. * We are in the development stages of enlarged digital negatives for any and all alternative printing , using the lambda loaded up with FP4 film.(thank you 6 amigos).

Imagine that, fully dodged and burned images with a contrast index on the film tailored to the end process you want to contact print. Whole new meaning to making some Sun prints and printing in bug light.

Does this mean I will stop printing under an enlarger??

not on your life, this new method is just another powerful tool in image making.