MirkoBoeddecker
We have had the entire remaining stock of Polywarmton matt (PE and baryta) in stock for over 8 months.
So far, sales have been so modest that I would strongly advise any potential new producer of this paper against investing more than 250 EUR.
At the same time, forums all over the world are full of complaints in every conceivable form about how terrible the Forte bankruptcy is and how much we miss Polywarmton.
Somehow, none of this adds up for me, and I would be very interested to know whether there is still a genuine demand for this product at all, or whether you have all switched to alternatives in the meantime.
Best regards,
Mirko
kugelfisch
"Somehow, it all seems a bit of a mess to me, and I’d be really interested to know whether there’s still a genuine need for this, or whether you’ve all switched to alternatives in the meantime."
Why doesn’t it add up? If the company’s dead anyway, it’s better to start looking for alternatives in good time – before Foma shuts down too, or the new MCP/MCC project has to be scrapped ;-)
I’ve still got some Polywarmton at home; once that’s used up, I won’t be ordering any more.
Regards
Alex
orwograph
In my case, the opposite is true: I’m looking for a warm-toned, multi-contrast baryta paper, as I’ve mainly been working with ORWO fixed-gradation paper (baryta) so far, which is also cold-black. However, I cannot/do not want to buy paper from the high-end segment because my entire ‘front end’ (camera, lenses, developing chemicals and, ultimately, my experience) can at best be described as semi-professional. So I have to make compromises. :) I really liked the MCC from the test, apart from the fact that, for my taste, the emulsion sticks a bit too firmly to the drying cloth of my hot press. The ORWO paper is much easier to handle and, as a result, sticks much less, as there is significantly less lint on the surface.
But back to the topic: last week in Moscow I bought two new types of paper in a shop that I liked the price of and which I’m now going to test first (Slavich Bromportrait/Baryt Warm Tone, card-thickness, normal contrast, 10×15 cm, 25 sheets for €2.50, and Fomabrom Variant, 30×40 cm, 10 sheets for €8)
It’s a shame you didn’t get in touch with me before you went to Moscow; otherwise I could have looked into a few things for you. I’m particularly curious about the cheap Slavich Warmton baryta.
Also, I still need to become a customer with you; for some reason, I’ve still got a bit of a mental block about making that first purchase, the minimum order value, delivery charges and so on. I’d rather pop into your shop when I’m back in Berlin.
Peter.
ThomasLoos
Well, I really like using the Forte PWT 14 FB and still have a bit left. I’ve recently tried the PWT 14 PE for the first time and would very much like to continue using it. I haven’t looked into any alternatives yet, but I’ll start doing so soon.
I’ve never used the papers with the matt finish before and, given that there are as yet no concrete indications that the paper will be produced again, I didn’t want to test them for the first time now, at least not at a normal price. That’s actually the problem for me.
If it looks likely that someone will resume production of the paper, I would continue to use it and would also buy up remaining stocks now.
It was no different with Agfa, by the way. Ever since I started enlarging in my darkroom, I’ve always worked with MCP. After Agfa went bust, I initially looked around for alternatives, and it was only when it became clear last year that you would continue producing the paper that I started buying up remaining stocks of MCP as well. I never really got on with the MG IV anyway, so I’ll certainly be buying MCP and MCC as ADOX too.
cfb_de
Hi Mirko,
I just don’t like matt paper. If it were glossy, you’d have sold me something ages ago.
Best regards,
Franz
Rodinal
Hi Mirko,
You’re quite right that the complaints and commercial reality don’t quite add up again, and as is so often the case, it’s not just this instance.
Why I no longer use Polywarmtone:
- I find matt paper, well, not particularly appealing
- After various problems with the fixing, I’m staying well away from this paper. (Despite the heaviest and longest fixing, it took on a pinkish tinge or bloomed)
- As a matter of principle, I no longer snap up remaining stock or bankruptcy goods.
When is the new ADOX MCP/MCC coming out?
It’s much the same here; over two years after Agfaphoto went bust, there’s still plenty of the paper and APX in abundance.
Who benefits from that?
No one!
Neither those who produced it – they were made redundant anyway – nor those running the clearance stock because the profit margin is much smaller, nor those who are supposed to buy it because they’re flogging a dead horse.
Least of all those who are still actively producing!
Sorry, but with every roll of APX etc. you buy—cut from dubious master rolls—you might as well be firing a broadside at Ilford & Co.
Rodinal
... I’d also like to praise the new ADOX Easy Print 311/312 (also known as Kentmere VC Select); the pack sizes and price are more than reasonable, and given my volume of work, I find the packs of 10 particularly handy for the larger formats.
TA
Hi Mirko,
I reckon it really is mainly down to the finish :) . PW RC was my absolute favourite PE paper, but only in gloss. I did order a box of the matt version once, but it didn’t really do it for me. That certainly wasn’t down to the PW itself, but more to the fact that I don’t really like matt papers. When I wanted to quickly build up a small stock after the Forte bankruptcy, I rang you, but neither PE nor baryta were available in gloss anymore. So I gave Foma’s papers a go. I really like the Fomabrom Variant 3 :) and I’m already looking forward to Version IV, which is due to be released later this year.
Best regards,
taher
wschwetz
A while back, I bought a whole load of PW paper – both glossy and some matt – so I’ve still got some left. As it’s no longer being produced, I rarely use it (saving it for the right shots) and mostly work with MCP.
So I’ll definitely be buying quite a bit more PE matt paper. I recently printed a sort of morbid still life on it, and it turned out really well. I generally find still lifes look better on matt paper. I very rarely do portraits, but I think it’s better than glossy for that too, so I’d like to give it a go sometime.
So far, I’ve used the glossy Polywarmton for rather arid landscapes and a few industrial ruins. I also want to enlarge industrial ruins on matt paper soon and see how that looks. Depending on how it turns out, I’ll order more matt paper.
However, my personal policy now is that I only want to use papers for which Heiland Splitgrade settings are available, or where the supplier provides me with a working (!) setting, even if a batch shows significant deviations from the standard. I have neither the time nor the inclination to fiddle about with that (the same applies to negative films regarding the quality of the processing instructions).
Besides, I miss the old Polykalt tone in N113 at least as much as I miss the PW.
Wilf
Urnes
I don’t think anyone really wants to buy a paper that won’t be available in the long run. I stocked up myself two years ago when they first went into administration. That should last me a while. However, PW in 24x30 hasn’t been available in glossy for a while now either. I had to search for a while before I found a box left in the lab.
Regards, Sven.
MirkoBoeddecker
Hi everyone,
Thanks for the feedback. There’s a bit of everything in there ;-)
The PW is probably a thing of the past. Whatever comes along from whoever to ‘replace’ Forte PW will be a completely new paper, combining as many of the positive qualities of the former Forte paper as possible, but coming from a different source.
Best regards,
Mirko
Urnes
It's dead simple, Mirko.
A warm-tone paper on a sturdy backing that bends like the devil when you want it to and is there when you need it. :)
Cheers, Sven.
bernhardmangelsgmxde
Actually, I’m looking for a PE paper with a matt finish and (ideally) a warm tone that won’t put too much of a strain on a student’s budget… to put it plainly: I’m looking for the PW in matt. But the catalogue says: “Finish: glossy”; that plastic-like gloss… not my cup of tea. (n.b.: Glossy baryta: I can’t have that... it has to be matt)
If I’ve understood the discussion correctly, is it actually only available in matt? If that’s the case: update the catalogue entry, and I’ll buy some with my next order...
(And a few APX as well – I can justify that morally. I like the film, and if it costs less now, that’s good for me. It’s no use to the retailers if the stock just goes to waste either).
If the paper is no longer available later on... well, it’ll just be gone, but there’ll be something similar to replace it.
Buchtnix
On average, I use 25 sheets of 24x30 FPW2 (semi-matt) a month. I’d like to keep using it, especially as it offers very good value for money. The Fomatone PE certainly has its appeal, but it’s twice as expensive. Apart from the Fomatone PE, I don’t know of any other warm-tone PE paper. So, either say goodbye to warm tones or buy Splitgrade; given these price differences, the Splitgrade will have paid for itself within three years at the latest, based on my print volume.
Regards, Steffen
