THE ART COLLECTION

Technical Data

The Art Collection

Product Description

An exquisite range of exclusive high quality specialist papers, crafted for the discerning artistic image maker.

Superior emulsions, carefully selected for each paper type, are coated on Kentmere's unique Art papers. Each of the papers in the range, with their rough drawing paper characteristics and textures, can be used by artists and photographers alike to give the ultimate creative medium.

For additional information on toners, see the Toning Kenmere Papers document.

Art Document

A lightweight rough drawing paper, coated with a non-supercoated bromo-iodide emulsion. Inks, water colours, dyes, charcoal, pencil - all traditional artists materials will "take" due to the absence of the usual supercoat layer. This unique paper will take a variety of specialist treatments, bromoil, charcoal enhancement etc. Art Document is the creative choice for artists and specialist photographers.

R.C. Art

The same textured Art paper surface, but with a protective supercoat and on an easy to process mid weight resin coated base. Easy to handle and tone, R.C. Art can be machine processed. Due to the resin coating and protective supercoat, R.C. Art is less suitable for some of the various artistic processes.

Art De Luxe

A heavier Art surface with greater surface texture on a luxury 175 g/m² weight base. This paper, with its supercoated bromo-iodide emulsion, is particularly suited to large display/portfolio prints demanding a more robust paper with a deeper surface indentation.

Art Classic

A luxury 240 g/m² paper with a soft ivory tone, coated with a warm tone chloro-bromide emulsion. Its soft delicate image rendition is particularly suited to "contre-jour" high key subjects. It is equally suitable for the sympathetic copying of old prints, giving a delightful "period" feel. Art Classic, with its specialist chloro-bromide emulsion, is very responsive to warm tone developers which enhance the image warmth. Toning, lith development (creating warm cream/pink highlights and magenta/red blacks) and dyeing give endless possibilities to the truly creative - master printer's choice.

Product Identification

The Art Collection labelling contains the following information :-

Packaging

Kentmere black and white photographic papers are packed in a black plastic envelope, then an outer cardboard box or envelope and finally sealed with a label and tape. The plastic envelope helps protect the paper from humidity and fumes as well as being light proof. Although the black plastic envelope is light proof, we would recommend that it is also returned to the outer cardboard container before exposure to white light as small holes can develop in the bag with use.

Storage

All Kentmere black and white photographic papers should be stored in their original packaging, including the black plastic envelope. The plastic envelope protects the paper from harmful darkroom fumes and humidity. Ideally the paper should be stored in a cool dry environment preferably at temperatures below 20°C. Allow sufficient time for warming up and do not allow condensation to form on the paper.

Spectral Sensitivity

Spectral sensitivity of R.C. Art, Document Art and Art De Luxe papers.

Spectral sensitivity of Art Classic paper.

Paper Structure

R.C. Art

Paper Base

The textured base paper has a weight of 135 g/m² coated on both sides with 19 g/m² of polyethylene giving a base weight of approximately 173 g/m² and a thickness of approximately 220 µm.

Coated emulsion layer

The light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer has a silver content of approximately 1.6 g/m². This is covered with a gelatine supercoat which protects the emulsion from stress fogging and physical damage and also contains a developing agent.

Cross section of R.C. Art paper

(Not to scale, for information only)

Document Art

Paper Base

The textured base paper has a weight of 135 g/m² and a thickness of approximately 214 µm.

Coated emulsion layer

The light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer has a silver content of approximately 1.7 g/m². A small amount of developing agent is incorporated within the emulsion. This paper does not have a supercoat layer.

Art De Luxe

Paper Base

The textured base paper has a weight of 175 g/m² and a thickness of approximately 280 µm.

Coated emulsion layer

The light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer has a silver content of approximately 1.8 g/m². This is covered with a gelatine supercoat which protects the emulsion from stress fogging and physical damage and also contains a small amount of developing agent.

Art Classic

Paper Base

The textured base paper has a weight of 240 g/m² and a thickness of approximately 410 µm.

Coated emulsion layer

The light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer has a silver content of approximately 1.8 g/m². This is covered with a gelatine supercoat which protects the emulsion from stress fogging and physical damage and also contains a small amount of developing agent.

Cross section of Fibre based Art papers

Note: Document Art has NO supercoat layer

(Not to scale, for information only)

Safelighting

The Art collection uses conventional bromide and chloro-bromide emulsions, which can be used under standard safelights for non-VC type printing papers ie. yellow/amber through to red. Good darkroom practices should be adopted, keeping safelight exposure to a minimum and returning unused paper to the original packaging.

Box/lantern type safelights, using glass filters should only be used with a 15 W bulb or less and should be positioned at least 1 metre from the paper. Filters which are suitable for use with the Art Collection are Kodak OA, OB, OC, or 1A, and Ilford 902.

Fluorescent safelights are also suitable, these give a brighter, over all more even lighting. Fluorescent safelights can produce a more evenly lit and pleasant working environment but still be as safe as the conventional lantern type safelights. Fluorescent safelights should be positioned at least 1.5 metres from the paper. Fluorescent safelights which are suitable for use with the Art Collection are EncapSulite A 10/ND.4 Amber or R 10 Red. (EncapSulite International Ltd., Youngs Trad. Est., Leighton Buzzard LU7 8QF. Tel. 01525 376974).

Other safelights can be used but tests should always be carried out first.

Sensitivity / ISO Paper Speeds

(ISO speeds to ISO 6846 - 1992)

Contrast range

(ISO range to ISO 6846 - 1992)

Maximum density

The papers in the Art Collection will achieve the following maximum densities:-

Document Art 1.40

R.C. Art 1.40

Art De Luxe 1.50

Art Classic 1.60

(the texture of the paper surface and matting agent content reduce the maximum density achievable on all the papers within the Art Collection)

These figures represent an average of the achievable results. A small amount of production tolerance is included. Actual results achieved may differ depending on processing, paper age and storage conditions.

Density/Characteristic curves

Document Art

Resin Coated Art

Art De Luxe

Art Classic

Results achieved using Kentmere VC Select Plus Developer 1 + 12 at 20°C as recommended under processing instructions. Other recommended developers and fixers (see Processing) should give comparable results.

Processing

The Art Collection can be processed in Kentmere VC Select Plus Developer and Fixer with excellent results. Also recommended, in alphabetical order are Agfa Neutol, Champion B&W Multicontrast, Ilford Ifospeed, Kodak Polymax, and Tetenal Variospeed developers, together with their appropriate fixers. Equivalent products from other manufacturers should give similar results, as will most high quality standard and multicontrast paper developers.

R.C. Art can also be processed in roller transport machines intended for black and white materials. Art Classic will react with warm tone developers such as Agfa Neutol WA, intensifying image warmth.

The following table shows recommended dish processing conditions for use with Kentmere VC Select Plus Developer and Fixer. If using another manufacturer's chemistry, refer to their instructions for recommended processing conditions, to achieve similar results.

(note: R.C. Art should NOT be given excessive washing, as this can cause shrinkage in the base when it is dried.)

Drying Fibre based Art papers

Fibre based Art papers can be dried using any standard fibre base paper drying methods, these include:

Atmospheric drying, either at room temperature or using warm air, having removed excess surface water using a suitable print squeegee. Prints will dry flatter if hung back to back in pairs.

Print drying racks or plastic mesh screens can also be used to hold prints flat during drying.

If using a heated glazing surface for drying prints, back of print to the glazing surface, excessive temperatures should not be used, as this can cause the emulsion to melt and adhere to the glazer blanket.

Drying R.C. Art paper

Resin Coated Art can be dried using any standard resin coated paper drying methods, these include:

Warm air drying up to temperatures of 80°C.

Infra-red dryers such as the Ilford Ilfolab 1250 Dryer or similar.

Atmospheric drying, having removed excess surface water using a suitable print squeegee.

Warm air drying as in purpose made print drying cabinets.

Note: R.C. Art, as with all resin coated papers, should NOT be used with a rotary glazing/drying drum or flat bed glazing/drying press.

Toning

The Art Collection papers tone well with Kentmere Sepia Toner. Kentmere Sepia Toner offers infinitely variable tones, according to dilution and time.

Prints to be toned should be thoroughly fixed and washed prior to any toning.

Kentmere Sepia Toner comes as parts A + B : a bleach and toner. By varying the dilution of the toner a range of tones can be obtained. Used neat a rich chocolate colour is produced, the colour moving towards yellow/brown with increasing dilution.

Method

i) Immerse print in the bleach 'A' solution until all the black image is bleached.

ii) Wash in water until the water is no longer coloured.

iii) Tone in solution 'B' diluted as required.

iv)Wash for 40 minutes in running water (R.C. Art 4 minutes).

Detailed technical sheets covering toning and cross-processing of our product range are available separately.

Mounting

The Art Collection papers can be mounted using any of the standard methods for print mounting.

Technical enquiries

Please address any technical enquiries on this or any of our products to:-

Kentmere Limited
Photographic Division
Staveley,
Kendal,
Cumbria LA8 9PB.

Tel: 01539 821365
Fax: 01539 821399

Replacements

Kentmere Limited will replace or credit the value of any Kentmere papers if found by us to be defective in manufacture, our liability being confined to the value of the paper only. In all such cases, proof that the paper was defective would be required.