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Black and white film specialist Ilford Photo has announced the development of a new version of its resin-coated Multigrade black and white darkroom printing paper, and said that its existing orthochromatic emulsion will be available in 135 and 120 formats. The company plans to introduce Ilford Multigrade V RC Deluxe as stocks of the current version sell out, and Ilford Ortho Plus should go on sale at the end of November.
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The new paper is said to offer deeper blacks and ‘improved’ spacing between the mid-tones, along with a slightly warmer base tint in the paper. Ilford says too that contrast is more consistent across the tonal range which will make printing more predictable.
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| A sample photo on Ilford Ortho Plus |
Ilford has made an orthochromatic emulsion for some time, but it has only been available on sheet formats in the recent past. Cut sheets of 5x4in have been the smallest widely available size, so introducing it for 35mm and 120 medium format cameras will make the film accessible to a much wider audience. Ilford Ortho Plus is designed for copy work, but its color sensitivity also makes it suited to creative uses. Rated at ISO 80 in natural light and ISO 40 in tungsten conditions, the film is only sensitive to green and blue light, and thus darkens anything red in the scene.
It emphases blood stains in forensic work, but can also create interesting effects in portraiture as it darkens freckles and brings out skin texture. The film is very fine-grained and can produce punchy contrast and high resolution in flat copy work. Sensitivity drops off at around 570nm, so it can be processed ‘by eye’ under red safe-light conditions without the risk of fogging. It is suitable for processing with all of Ilford’s main-stream chemicals.
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The company has also created a new film processor’s starter kit that includes a Paterson dev tank, two spirals, film clips, measuring cylinders, thermometer and pre-measured chemicals to fit the tank.
For more information see the Ilford Photo website.
Press release
NEW PRODUCTS ANNOUNCED PRODUCTS INCLUDING 5TH GENERATION ILFORD MULTIGRADE RC PAPER & ILFORD ORTHO FILM IN 135 AND 120 FORMATS
We are delighted to announce a number of exciting new products added to our range.
ILFORD MULTIGRADE RC DELUXE
ILFORD announced the world’s first variable contrast MULTIGRADE paper in 1940 and in 2019, as we celebrate our 140th anniversary, we are pleased to announce the 5th generation of our best-selling MULTIGRADE RC Papers.
MULTIGRADE IV RC papers (4th generation) were launched 25 years ago and have been hugely successful becoming the ‘go to’ black & white RC papers for discerning students, amateurs and professional darkroom users all over the world.
“Improving them was not going to be easy but we wanted to bring the manufacturing in line with the latest emulsion making technology used in our other RC and fibre papers and so we have redesigned the emulsion from the ground up. This project has been in development for 8 years and we are extremely pleased and excited with the final product.” Giles Branthwaite, Sales & Marketing Director.
These new papers have a slightly warmer base tint than their predecessor as well as better, deeper blacks, improved mid-grade spacing for easier printing and more consistent contrast throughout the tonal range.
Check your preferred stockist for availability and pricing of the new papers. MULTIGRADE IV RC papers will continue to be available while stocks last.
ILFORD ORTHO PLUS
We are expanding the world’s biggest selection of black & white films with the addition of ILFORD ORTHO PLUS in 135 and 120 formats. As the name suggests this is an orthochromatic black and white film (all other ILFORD and Kentmere films are panchromatic) rated at ISO 80 in natural light and ISO 40 in Tungsten.
“Our Ortho film was designed as a technical, high-resolution copy film for negatives and has been available in sheet format for some time. We know photographers want choice and love to try new films and so we have now coated our Ortho emulsion onto an acetate base for 35mm cassettes and 120 rolls. We believe ORTHO PLUS offers superb photographic potential thanks to its fine grain and sharpness and some of the results we have seen are stunning.” Giles Branthwaite, Sales & Marketing Director.
The blue and green sensitivity of this emulsion enables the film to be handled in deep red safelight conditions making processing and inspection easier. Its lack of red sensitivity also means that reds and oranges are rendered darker than panchromatic films.
ILFORD ORTHO PLUS will be available from early November. Check your preferred stockist for pricing.
ILFORD & Paterson FILM PROCESSING STARTER KIT
Building on the launch of the ILFORD Simplicity range of film processing chemicals in 2018, we have worked in collaboration with Paterson, a specialist manufacturer of some of the world’s most popular darkroom products, to create a starter kit containing all you need to process your first two rolls of film. You just need a light tight space and some film!
“ILFORD Simplicity chemicals are pre-measured for simple, convenient use and while they can easily be used in most tanks their volumes work perfectly with the Paterson 2-reel Universal Film Development Tank as they hold 600ml of diluted chemicals. Working closely with Paterson we have now created a kit that offers film photographers a convenient and affordable way to start processing their own films.” Giles Branthwaite, Sales & Marketing Director.
The kit contains: 1 x ILFORD 35mm Film Cassette Opener, 1 x ILFORD Simplicity Film Starter Pack (containing developer, stop bath, fixer and wetting agent), 1 x Paterson Universal Film Tank, 2 x Paterson Super System 4 Reels, 3 x Paterson 600ml Graduates, 1 x Paterson Thermometer, 1 x Paterson Stirrer, 2 x Paterson set of 2 film clips.
ILFORD & Paterson FILM PROCESSING STARTER KIT will be available from early November. Check your preferred stockist for pricing.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)