Darkroom Papers: A Practical Comparison

What difference does the paper actually make to a darkroom print? In this film I take a practical, hands-on look at a selection of black-and-white photographic papers, from affordable everyday RC papers to warmtone fibre, direct-positive paper, handmade bamboo paper, and Foma’s unusual coloured Fomapastel range. Rather than simply comparing specifications, the focus is on actually using the papers in the darkroom: printing with them, handling them, and looking at how differences in base colour, surface, image tone, and paper construction affect the finished print. All of the papers featured in this video are available in the UK from Firstcall Photographic, making it easy to compare some of the more unusual papers alongside familiar darkroom staples. I look at papers from Kentmere, Ilford, Bergger, Foma, Film Washi, and Harman, comparing Resin Coated and fibre-based papers, warmtone and cooltone surfaces, coloured paper, bamboo-based paper, and direct-positive material. Whether you’re setting up your first darkroom, looking for something different from your usual paper, or wondering whether moving from RC to fibre really makes a visible difference, hopefully this gives you a useful practical starting point. More of my photography, darkroom work, and projects: https://www.tombobwarland.com PAPERS USED All of the papers featured are available in the UK from Firstcall Photographic: Kentmere VC Select Glossy https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... Ilford Multigrade Cooltone RC Glossy https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... Ilford Multigrade Warmtone RC Glossy https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... Ilford Multigrade FB Warmtone Semi-Matt https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... Bergger Prestige Variable CB FB Glossy https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... Foma Fomapastel Yellow https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... Foma Fomapastel Magenta https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... Foma Fomapastel Cyan https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... Film Washi B Bamboo Paper https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... Foma Fomaspeed N311 Glossy 5×7 https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... Foma Fomaspeed N311 Glossy 6×4 https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... Harman Direct Positive FB 4×5 https://firstcall-photographic.co.uk/... #Darkroom #AnaloguePhotography #FilmPhotography #DarkroomPrinting #BlackAndWhitePhotography