Is late-1990s black-and-white darkroom paper still usable?
Asked 3/26/2017
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2 answers
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I found some old, unexposed Ilford black-and-white photo paper stored in a cupboard since the late 1990s:
- 5x7 Pearl Multigrade IV RC Deluxe, 100 sheets, unopened
- 8x10 Glossy Multigrade IV FB Fiber, 25 sheets, opened
- 8x10 Satin Multigrade IV RC Deluxe, 25 sheets, opened
Is paper this old still usable for normal darkroom printing? If so, should I expect any changes in exposure, contrast, or image quality? If it’s not suitable for regular printing, are there any creative uses for it, or should it just be discarded?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
4
Chances are good that the papers only have lost some sensitivity or contrast and that you with some adaption in exposure and gradiation control can make good prints on them.
Originally by user10009. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user10009
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—old black-and-white paper can still be usable, especially if it was stored reasonably well. Based on the experience shared, the most likely changes are reduced sensitivity and possible contrast shifts, so you may need longer exposures and some adjustment of contrast/grading to get good prints.
The unopened pack has the best chance of being fine, but even opened boxes may still work. The simplest approach is to test a few sheets and see how they print.
If you don’t want to use it yourself, don’t automatically throw it away. A local camera club, school art department, or darkroom program may be happy to take it—people have reported 20-year-old paper still printing well in those settings.
If it doesn’t behave well for normal enlarger printing, it can still be useful for experimental processes such as lumen printing.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago