Manfred
Hello FOTOIMPEX,
I’ve just been on the Foma website and noticed that Variant III is now also available on baryta paper. When will I be able to order it from you?
Regards,
Manfred
Foma Variant Baryta
Manfred
Hello! I’d like to ask this question again!
Size
Manfred
cfb_de
A four-day wait... So what?
Mirko and his team aren’t demigods; besides, they have to work to afford this forum luxury. Unfortunately, that takes time. In the meantime, they’re earning the money that the forum provider likes to see from them at the end of the month.
Have you ever phoned them and asked directly? Rumour has it you can even get answers to your questions at the Berlin Künstlerladen;->
[At the poster’s request, also without a salutation. I can be demanding and arrogant too, just like the OP.]
Regards
Franz
MirkoBoeddecker
Unfortunately, Foma has not yet sent any samples of the new paper.
We had suggested this product be launched at Photokina – actually as a potential replacement for Forte, should that line be discontinued.
Unfortunately, things tend to take a little longer at Foma.
So far, this paper isn’t available to order, and we don’t yet know whether it will ever be released as a standard product.
At the moment, you can order it with an 8-week delivery time, subject to a minimum order of 4,000 square metres at a relatively high price, or a few scraps in matt 13x18 cm, which happen to be in stock from the test production run.
Of course, that’s not a viable business model.
Apologies for the delayed reply, but I had to check first whether there was any news.
Best regards,
Mirko
Gast
Orders can currently be placed with an 8-week delivery time, subject to a minimum order of 4,000 square metres, at a relatively high price
If I’ve done my maths right, and without any waste, that’s around 650 boxes of 30×40 sheets, each containing 50 sheets. Sliiiightly more than my annual consumption and perhaps a bit too much for a bulk order :D
Best regards,
Stefan
Manfred
Thanks for your reply. I’ll have to wait a bit longer, but I’d be delighted if it does go into production.
Best regards,
Manfred
MirkoBoeddecker
Hello Manfred,
May I ask what exactly you’re hoping to get from a Foma Variant Baryt that, for example, an ADOX Vario Classic or a Polywarmton doesn’t offer?
I’d like to analyse the samples – if they ever arrive – with that in mind.
Or have you already found something in the data sheet that you like?
Best regards,
Mirko
Manfred
Mirko,
I use Foma in PE. According to the data sheet, baryta and PE are pretty much identical, so I can make an enlargement on baryta without having to do too many test strips.
Compared to Vario Classic and Polywartone: the fivefold speed. I just find exposure times running into minutes a bit of a nuisance, especially when one or two areas need to be re-exposed.
I achieve these times pretty quickly with my old Durst, a 75-watt lamp and 30 x 40 cm enlargements.
Best regards,
Manfred
Gast
Hello Manfred,
I use both Fomaspeed (fixed and variable) and Fomabrom (fixed gradation), and the papers aren’t identical. Fomaspeed is a nice workhorse paper where you can hardly go wrong, but it’s not exactly the finest art paper in the world either. Then again, that’s not what it’s designed for. Fomabrom, on the other hand, has more grey tones, a higher Dmax, and looks much better overall than Fomaspeed, which, in my opinion, isn’t just down to the different base paper.
It’s one of my favourite papers, which is why I’d definitely be happy to pre-order a few packs of Fomabrom Variant if it would make things easier for Mirko.
However, the fact that the curves on the Foma data sheets are identical doesn’t mean much. They’re identical for Fomaspeed Festgradation and Fomabrom Festgradation too, yet the papers still behave differently.
Regards
Samuli
Gast
Ah, the speeds. They are actually almost identical for Fomaspeed and Fomabrom. I usually make my test strips on Fomaspeed, but when it comes to fine-tuning delicate shades of grey, you still need a test strip on Fomabrom. You realise just how different the emulsions are, despite their almost identical speeds, when you make lith prints with them. They look very different.
SamuliSchielke
Oh, I’ve been writing without giving my name the whole time. Sorry.
So, to recap, I’d be very interested in the variable-grade version of Fomabrom, provided it behaves largely the same as the fixed-grade Fomabrom, and in particular, remains suitable for lith printing. I’d be happy to pre-order a few rolls as well.
Best regards,
Samuli
