RE: [Leica] OT:Ilford DD-X and HP5+

["Mueller, Rob" <rob.mueller@eds.com>]

Mark,
not everyone uses Ilford. John Sexton uses a lot of Kodak paper. I think he
does a pretty good job of printing.

Rob Mueller
Studies in Black and White
www.studiesinblackandwhite.com 
rob@studiesinblackandwhite.com





- -----Original Message-----
From: Mark Rabiner [mailto:mrabiner@concentric.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 1999 8:41 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] OT:Ilford DD-X and HP5+


Gwpics@aol.com wrote:
> 
> This may appear to be even more off-target, but let me finish before
passing
> judgement.
> 
> When Ilford Multigrade IV first came on the market I switched to it from
the
> earlier MGIII, and I found that I could not print with it as it was flat
and
> muddy.   I subsequently had lengthy discussions with Ilford who tried to
> blame everything but their paper.   They finally admitted that it was
> designed for punchy negatives as produced by the press boys, who accounted
> for 90% of their sales.   Since then I have been using Kodak or Agfa!
> 
> Now to the point - it would seem that Ilford have produced a developer
which,
> when linked with their Delta range of films (and others) produce the
punchier
> negatives that match their papers.   I have tried the combination and
still
> don't like it.   I find the dev OK'ish but will return to Aculux when I
have
> finished this bottle I think.
> 
> Gerry

I have been completely enamored with Ilford Multigrade IV since my first
box.
For me with my Dektol and Aristo cold light heads a cleaner version of 
Multigrade III that also had split consecutive printing in mind somehow
according to what I have read and experienced. Every time I play around with
other papers it's a mistake. Kodak hasn't made a decent black and white
paper in
decades and I'm sure could care less. The Multigrade warm with also has
matching
emulsions in both RC and fiber is the only other paper which excites me but
it
forces me to open another stop and I'm going to have to get zip aligned
first.
I'm not having the same experiences with it being muddy as you Gerry. If you
think your negs are flat give' em another minute or two and check your
safelights. Everyone I know uses and loves the Ilford, they rule. Those
exotic
liquid paper developers have rubbed me the wrong way, when in doubt, go back
to Dektol!
Mark Rabiner