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Monday, December 24 2007, 7:58 PM
Slavich Photographic Paper
Original Link
After hearing some negative feedback about this paper on certain forums I have decided to write about my own experiences with it.
I stated using this paper when it first became available though Freestylephoto and I have to say that I am extremely impressed with the quality and tonality of this paper. The paper has rich blacks and beauty whites with little dry down and best of all dries somewhat flat. For a fiber paper this is something I really do like as it makes it easy to mount.
I have only tried the Slavich double weight G3 glossy paper, but I am also planning on testing the single weight paper soon to see how it mounts and looks when presenting an original photograph.
With that said, the reason I even considered using this paper was because my paper of choice, Forte Polygrade, was no longer going to be made as the manufacture was going out of business. Instead of stocking up on paper that I could no longer get in a year or two, I decided I wanted to support the photographic community by buying products that were available and supporting manufactures that were going to support me.
To test this new paper I decided to make two original prints from two different negatives to compare the prints side by side. I chose to use Kentmere G3 for one and Slavich G3 for the other. I developer I used on both was ANSCO 130@1:1 and I have to say that I was taken back by the beauty of this new Slavich paper.
Below are two traditional photographs from the different papers;
Kentmere G3 using ANSCO 130 1:1 and toned.
Silver Light, original
photograph is available
Slavich G3, using ANSCO 130 1:1 and toned.
Train #2-2, original
photograph is available
When comparing these two photographs side by side in person they both glow and have their own wonderful qualities about them. I think you cannot go wrong with either of these two papers above, but lately I have been moving more towards the Slavich as it tones much better than the Kentmere and it is less expensive for the same quality. I am sure once people catch on to this new wonderful paper the price of it will go up.
One lat note about the Slavich paper is that I have noticed that if you use Dektol with this paper, you will get at times chemical fogging. If you use this paper with ANSCO 130 you will be fine as I have any problems at all when using the ANSCO developer.
If you are looking for a quality paper I would definitely give Slavich a try. You will not be disappointed, I know I wasn’t.
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