Are paper speeds all about the same?

[AnselAdamsX]

Are paper speeds from different manufacturers within a stop of exposure of each other? Specifically Fomatone MG classic 132 and Ilford MGIV matt. I'm doing an 11x14 print on the Fomatone. I had the exposure I wanted using 5x7 ilford but the Fomatone is much lighter.

[summicron1]

no. you have to do tests. I know the rc and fiber based papers I use have different speeds.

[markbarendt]

Actually most papers have ISO ratings like films, you can get very close "doing the math" just like with film.

[jnanian]

Are paper speeds from different manufacturers within a stop of exposure of each other? Specifically Fomatone MG classic 132 and Ilford MGIV matt. I'm doing an 11x14 print on the Fomatone. I had the exposure I wanted using 5x7 ilford but the Fomatone is much lighter.

hi

15-20 years ago i did paper speed tests ..
i had like 15 different rc and fiber papers ........

at that time at least, they had speed ratings, but
they were not like or even similar to iso ratings of film ...
they varied wildly from less then 1 ( gas light paper like azo
to 10 or 12 ... i didn't believe it but photo emulsion chemists ( PE )
have published here on apug that they have gotten speeds of asa 25 or 50
for some papers ... it all depends on the paper . .... and your technique ...

good luck !
john

[tkamiya]

I've seen as much as 3 stop difference just in small number of papers that I have here.
Also, as paper age, contrast goes lower. I've seen some of my paper lose about 1/2 grade worth of contrast in 2 years or so.

[BMbikerider]

I only use 2 B&W papers, Ilford and Kentmere. It is very obvious to me that Kentmere is approx 1 stop faster than Ilford and also about a grade harder too. I can expose a 9.5x12 print with no filter with Kentmere and get a punchy print whilst with Ilford I will have to use at least a grade 3 to 3.5 filter to get the same approximation

[Slixtiesix]

I used both the mentioned Foma and Ilford Multigrade IV. As far as I remember, the Foma was much slower. You won´t be able to avoid using some test strips...

[cmacd123]

Most of the RC VC papers do list the ppaer speed on the data sheet, and the Kentmere is one stop faster than most of the others. with the multigrade filters there is a speed break where I think it is the 4 and 5 result in a need for 1 stop more expsure

Most packages of paper have a data sheet - it often falls out when digging for the first sheet of paper.