MirkoBoeddecker
We’ve taken another step forward: the test run went wonderfully, and the first sample packs for the trial can now be put together.
If everything goes to plan, we’ll be ready to ship in about two weeks.
Over the next few days, everyone who has signed up so far will receive a confirmation email.
Anyone who would still like to help test the paper is welcome to ‘apply’ at: mccproject@ADOX.de
The paper has not yet fully cured. The photographic properties are in place, but it must not be dried on the press (otherwise it will stick to the blanket).
Anyone wishing to test hot drying must set aside a sheet and wait six weeks before trying it.
Best regards,
Mirko
PeterVolkmar
Hi Mirko,
Shouldn't the MCP be cast first?
What sizes are the test papers available in?
What "requirements" must the testers meet?
Regards, Peter
MirkoBoeddecker
Hello Peter,
The MCP is the first paper to go into ‘proper’ production.
For the test campaign, we are using samples from the third test stage.
First, the raw emulsions are tested individually using small coating samples (first stage), followed by an initial complete layer build-up on a calender (second stage). If everything has gone well up to that point, production is simulated on a smaller machine (24 cm wide). This is then just like the ‘real thing’, from roll to roll (unwinding and rewinding) with continuous drying. At this stage, everything must be just right, e.g. the viscosity, casting speed and the parameters set at the drying stations. If it doesn’t work here, it won’t work on the large casting machine either.
The sample sheets now being sent out come from this (successful) trial run.
They will be approximately 20x25 cm. We actually wanted to leave the casting edge on (so that you can see what it looks like), but the external dimensions must be kept within the Maxi Letter format (due to postage costs), so the edge may be trimmed.
As global interest in the MCC was significantly greater than in the MCP, we are sending the samples for the market study as MCC. As the machine’s capacity was limited (the time it was available to us), we had to choose between the two variants. The MCP was also tested, but the material obtained is only sufficient for our own analyses. We spent most of our time on the ‘production’ of MCC (2000 metres at 24 cm, including the casting margin).
In September, the first ‘proper’ large-scale MCP casting will take place at a width of 1.05 metres.
Anyone who would like to help put the new paper through its paces is kindly asked to send an email to: [email=mccproject@adox.de]mccproject@adox.de[/email] with a brief explanation of why they are qualified (e.g. long-term user). Please do not forget to include your delivery address.
We are providing the paper free of charge; there is simply an invoice for postage, with a kind request to pay via PayPal or bank transfer. This is to be understood as a “nominal fee”, so to speak; after all, a sheet from such a production run costs many times more than a normally cast sheet.
Naturally, we look forward to receiving as much feedback as possible.
A questionnaire will also be included with every shipment.
In the laboratory, the samples are, from a metrological point of view, identical to the original.
But who knows what happens when a former Buddhist monk who has converted to Catholicism in Sicily, under a full moon, hangs devotional images—moistened with holy water stirred anti-clockwise and previously passed through his own hand-chewed Amidol developer—out to dry in the gentle sea breeze (A process he has been carrying out unchanged since 1964 in complete seclusion on Agfa paper) – When, with a trembling hand, he holds up his lantern, fuelled by homemade almond oil, for inspection just before sunrise (...in the background, a seagull screeches in fright...)....whether the paper will then withstand the master’s harsh judgement in the flickering light..... that’s what interests us :unsure:
You get the picture.....
Best regards,
Mirko
cfb_de
But who knows what happens when a former Buddhist monk, now a convert to Catholicism, hangs devotional images in Sicily to dry in the gentle sea breeze under a full moon, after having soaked them in holy water stirred anti-clockwise and passed them through his own hand-chewed Amidol developer (a process he has been carrying out unchanged since 1964 in complete seclusion on Agfa paper) – when, with a trembling hand, he holds up his lantern, fuelled by homemade almond oil, for inspection just before sunrise (...in the background, a seagull screeches in fright...)....whether the paper will then withstand the master’s harsh judgement in the flickering light..... that’s what interests us
Mirko,
that has literary quality :-)
I’ll send you an email in a moment.
Best regards,
Franz
MirkoBoeddecker
Franz,
thanks for your email.
That’s a very good suggestion about the toning.
That’s exactly why we’re doing this.
With so many organic components, it’s sometimes difficult to calculate the chemistry, and photochemical products are a whole other story.
We’re really looking for as diverse a range of users as possible, who run the most unusual processes, so that we can verify differences and establish a benchmark of what works well and what doesn’t.
The story mentioned above is, of course, an exaggeration, but on the user side, knowledge of chemical relationships is often replaced by experience (figured out by trial and error), and these people naturally need to be able to work well with the paper too.
Hence this wide-ranging ‘field trial’ with the beta samples.
Best regards,
Mirko
cfb_de
Hi Mirko,
I received an envelope from you today :-)
How many sheets are in there and what size are they? If you could let me know, I’ll have a think about my test programme before opening the box (by the way, I really like the design!).
Also, I can’t see any details on where to pay the postage. So I assume you’ve covered that :-)
Best regards,
Franz
MirkoBoeddecker
Hello Franz,
There are 5 sheets measuring 18x24 cm inside. They were assembled by hand, so the dimensions may vary by a few millimetres.
All the testers so far have taken the trouble to write a few lines, which is why we have covered all the costs.
Best regards,
Mirko
orwograph
Hello!
I received the MCC last week and ran a test on it last night. Overall, I’m quite happy with the paper, but I do have a few comments to make. I should point out that I’m not familiar with the original Agfa MCC; in fact, I’ve never processed multigrade baryta paper before, only PE multigrade and fixed-grade baryta from Agfa and ORWO.
During processing, I immediately noticed the fast, almost PE-like image development, which was a positive point. Of course, this may also be because the paper is new, whereas the other baryta papers I’ve processed so far were at least 20 years old... I also really liked the rich maximum blacks and the sheen the paper achieves even without the hassle of high-gloss drying.
However, I found the contrast took some getting used to, as I mainly had to resort to filters 0 to 2 during processing – I’d never used the 0 filter before, because with the Kodak Polymax I’d been using up to that point, it would always have led to results that were far too flat. So the MCC seems to work significantly harder than the Polymax; that much I can say.
A second thing struck me whilst drying in the press. As I said, I dried the paper with a natural gloss finish against the press cloth, and in the end it stuck quite firmly to it; in other words, after drying there were a lot of lint particles clinging to the paper – they can be rubbed off to some extent with a soft cloth, but overall it’s quite difficult. The ORWO papers I usually use stick noticeably less to the cloth, so there are fewer fuzzies and they’re much easier to remove.
I’m certainly no expert, especially when it comes to baryta, but that’s my first impression. Overall, the paper has left me wanting more, and perhaps other people share my views; if so, Leverkusen-Bad Saarow could perhaps tweak the emulsion a little further.
Is it already clear in which price bracket the product will be positioned? Will it be above or below the Ilford Multigrade Baryta?
Best regards for now,
Peter.
Andreas_23
Hi Mirko,
I’m slowly running out of PE paper. Is it worth waiting for your MCP? I’ll need a new supply around October or November.
Best regards,
Andreas
MirkoBoeddecker
Hello Andreas,
We still have large quantities of Agfa PE (alongside other suppliers).
Unfortunately, our MCP production cannot start until these quantities are only available in an incomplete range.
No one will buy new ADOX MCP if they can get Agfa MCP at half price.
We will therefore probably store the new master rolls for the time being and start packaging them later, when the first gaps in the range appear.
Nothing has changed regarding the schedule for the MCC. The planned start of production is in May/June 2008.
Best regards,
Mirko
Andreas_23
Hello Andreas,
We still have large quantities of Agfa PE (as well as other brands).
Hello Mirko,
Well, it seems you no longer have 13 x 18 (at least it’s not in the catalogue). I suppose I’ll bridge the gap with a few packs of Ilford MG IV; that’s a good paper too, and delightfully affordable from you.
Best regards,
Andreas
ThomasLoos
Hi Mirko!
I read on Aphog that there’s still some MCC paper available for testing, and I’d like some too, as I missed out the first time round. However, I can’t send a message to the email address; I just keep getting error messages.
Best wishes, Thomas
MirkoBoeddecker
Just send it to info@fotoimpex.de
Best regards,
Mirko
