A COROLLARY TO PHOTOGRAPHY -2

  A COROLLARY TO PHOTOGRAPHY -2

Photo papers

These have a genuine white base overwhich a thin uniform silver halide layer is machine coated and either surface is smoothened or left under matt pressure to cause a matty presentation. The glossy ones are thin while the matty papers are in double thickness. The glossy ones require ‘GLAZING’ BY LAYING THEM OVER A POLISHED METAL OR GREASE-FREE GLASS SHEET. Papers of matty texture lend themselves admirabvly well for ‘fine pencil work’ or grey layings to conceal blemishes consequent to dust settling over negatives before enlarging. Technically the thin glossy papers are categoeized under number 1 and matty ones under 119. These numbers do not imply quality. It is a code adopted by M/S  AGFA INDIA for trading using the code to indicate the paper version needed. Besides, further coding helps to pin point the printing ability of papers of either version by prefix BN, BS, BW, BH , BEH SUFFIXED by 1 OR 119. Thus the item could be BN1/ BN119, BS 1 / BS 119 , BW 1/ BW 119 BH1 / BH 119 OR BEH1 / BEH 119. etc 

WHERE B stands for “BROVIRA “ N=Normal, S=Special, W= Heavy, H= Hard , EH= Extra Hard and these terms relate to the compatibility of paper to different categories of negatives based on their image density due to exposure in camera by light –natural or flash.  Brovira is the product of Agfa company , India for photo  printing paper

 N=Normal refers to the printing quality of the negative and it signifies a properly balanced negative with high lights , shadows and mid-tones well recorded and the paper to suit such negatives goes by the name Normal [BN 1 SINGLE WEIGHT] OR BN119 [DOUBLE WEIGHT]

W= Heavy MEANS THE image density is far higher than normal and calls for a more sensitive paper,as the negative is less transparent and may need more time to print.BW1 SW/BW119 DW

 S=Special MEANS the image is neither normal nor heavy , density is intermediate and thus SPECIAL . As such there is nothing special about the negative or itscorresponding paper grade BS1 SW/BS119 DW

H= Hard MEANS the image is faint and the details are unlikely to print except on  LOW SENSITIVITY PAPER called  HARD GRADE BH1 SW/BH/119.While far more weaker negatives require paper of Extra hard version EH – EH1 SW/ EH119 DW.

All these paper versions are meant to help printing in quick time by appropriate matching of papergrades to the relevant negative category. Even the experts cannot make out papergrade by mere physical examination.

An Indian venture in photo paper manufacture has had a glorious presence in the name of ‘LIPI’ paper manufactured at Podhanur near Coimbatore by 1960s and did have good quality and acceptancefor many years despite stiff competition from multinationals. Somehow in India M/S AGFA had a pan-national presence till 2005 or 2008

K.Raman