Ilford GFS?

[ajz]

I recently re-ordered two boxes of  Ilford GFS A3+ paper from B&H, only to find out that they had but one box and were not expecting any replacements to ship. My other go to store for paper and ink were no longer carrying Ilford paper. I can still find some boxes of A3+ GFS on the web, but my question is - Is Ilford still making GFS? Ilfords New Products pamphlet does not list GFS.

Thanks,
aj

[henrikolsen]

It could be IGFS and it's various other incarnations are not being produced anymore.

I notice Canson's Baryta Photographique is being discontinued, and replaced by

BARYTA PHOTOGRAPHIQUE II

according to

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/12/19/1962882/0/en/Canson-Infinity-presents-their-new-Baryta-Photographique-II-range.html

[I.T. Supplies]

It may be hard to get Ilford since the US distributor was very difficult to get proper updates on inventory and ship on time.  We stopped carrying Ilford because of these reasons and the fact that it's made in Europe, shipped to the "new" owner in Australia and than we have to wait for inventory to come into the US in order to ship to customers.

If you're able to find a distributor that has access to it, great.  However, our Simply Elegant Gold Fiber is basically the same paper as GFS and we get it from a warehouse/distributor that gets it directly from the mill in Europe (without the middle man; Ilford).

Hope this helps.
IT Supplies

[JRSmit]

This particular paper is no longer produced.

[rasworth]

I.T. Supplies,

The Ilford website has a "yes" for OBA content in Gold Fibre Silk.  Your website states no obas for Simply Elegant Gold Fiber.  Not a big deal, but is it really the same paper?

Richard Southworth

[ajz]

Thanks for all of the comments. I suspected something about Ilford but had no, ‘knowledge of the problem. I have typically ordered from I.T. Supplies, and found there service excellent, but  when no GFS was available went to B&H who had one box. I also use Canson,s Baryta and might try the SEGF. Need to know about OBA’s though.  Thanks to everyone for the product update.

aj

[ssgphoto]

Here's the text of  the letter we received from Ilford  last month

To our valued partners,
ILFORD Imaging is dedicated to creating high quality, award-winning print media to meet and exceed
customer requirements.
As many of you are aware, ILFORD Galerie Gold Fibre Silk has recently experienced production issues.
Changes in the composition of raw materials from our supplier has resulted in a significant difference to
the look and feel of Galerie Gold Fibre Silk.
Regrettably, we have therefore made the decision to discontinue production of Galerie Gold Fibre Silk,
until such time we can launch a replacement worthy of the "Gold" standard quality we have set.
On a positive note, we will soon announce the addition of a new ILFORD Galerie Gold FB Baryta paper,
which will become available in early 2020.
Those looking for an excellent alternative to ILFORD Galerie Gold Fibre Silk, we highly recommend
ILFORD Galerie Gold Fibre Pearl. (product details - see page 2)
ILFORD Imaging has always been at the forefront of producing innovative products. In 2020 we will
continue to expand our product portfolio to help image makers around the world realize their creative
vision.
Marc Payet
General Manager International Sales
ILFORD Imaging Europe GmbH

[SharonVL]

Stephen, if you try the new Ilford Baryta when it comes out, I would love to hear your impressions.

Sharon

[Rand47]

This is interesting and disappointing.  Canson, Ilford AND NOW Red River San Gabriel Baryta II is on “extended back order” where they speak to unavailability of coating components from the mill:

https://www.redrivercatalog.com/browse/san-gabriel-semigloss-fiber-baryta-photo-inkjet-fine-art-paper.html

An email to Red River had a response that it will eventually be available again.  But with the Canson and Ilford news, it makes me wonder.   I like the Red River offering because they sell 17x25” sheets (as SHOULD all the others!) which is a much better choice for 2:3 aspect ratio files.


This seems to confirm that all three of these papers were/are more or less identical.   I wonder if we’ll see something similar happen with Epson’s Legacy Baryta?  Though, of the baryta papers the Epson is my last choice due to it not laying as flat as the others.

I sure hope Canson’s new Photographique II is “as good.”  These are one of my go to papers for my small printing business.

Rand

[Alan Goldhammer]

This is interesting and disappointing.  Canson, Ilford AND NOW Red River San Gabriel Baryta II is on “extended back order” where they speak to unavailability of coating components from the mill:

https://www.redrivercatalog.com/browse/san-gabriel-semigloss-fiber-baryta-photo-inkjet-fine-art-paper.html

An email to Red River had a response that it will eventually be available again.  But with the Canson and Ilford news, it makes me wonder.   I like the Red River offering because they sell 17x25” sheets (as SHOULD all the others!) which is a much better choice for 2:3 aspect ratio files.


This seems to confirm that all three of these papers were/are more or less identical.   I wonder if we’ll see something similar happen with Epson’s Legacy Baryta?  Though, of the baryta papers the Epson is my last choice due to it not laying as flat as the others.

I sure hope Canson’s new Photographique II is “as good.”  These are one of my go to papers for my small printing business.

Rand

Moab Juniper Baryta Rag is also on back order and won't be available until later this month.  It's likely that all the papers in question come from the same European source and it's strange that only Baryta papers seem to be affected.

[Rand47]

Moab Juniper Baryta Rag is also on back order and won't be available until later this month.  It's likely that all the papers in question come from the same European source and it's strange that only Baryta papers seem to be affected.

Alan,

The plot thickens!  As many of us have suspected all along, this seems to confirm that these papers all came from the same mill with differences perhaps too small to matter.  Issues like this make me miss Michael all the more.  He’d be finding out what the back-story is on this and letting us know.  Not that it would make any difference in the situation, but would be fun to know what’s really up w/ the barytas.

I’m dubious that Canson’s Version II will be an “improvement” as opposed to a scramble for a hopefully suitable replacement.  If was a true advance, they’d have announced the improved version and hyped it’s superiority “first” then discontinued the other - rather than the other way around.   I’ll order some as soon as it is available, and hope for the best.  LOL

Rand

[JRSmit]

Just git a roll to test of the “successor” , will inform outcome.

[Rand47]

Just git a roll to test of the “successor” , will inform outcome.

Excellent!  Thank you.  I look forward to your comments.

Rand

[I.T. Supplies]

I.T. Supplies,

The Ilford website has a "yes" for OBA content in Gold Fibre Silk.  Your website states no obas for Simply Elegant Gold Fiber.  Not a big deal, but is it really the same paper?

Richard Southworth

As I stated, we get our version directly from the distributor that gets it from the source where Ilford gets it.  Yes, it is the same paper.  Nowadays, many papers are made from single manufacturers and just given slightly different specs to make it their own.  Luster is a big one that one manufacturer for many brands makes.


Rand,

Canson went through an updated process to make the Version II better and more like dark room feel (per their newsletter). 


Epson's Legacy line is halted as their coating company closed and Epson had to find another company to take over the coating process.  But the paper is also made in Canson's mill.

[Rand47]

I.T. Supplies

Thank you for the information.   Much appreciated.

Rand

[Ernst Dinkla]

Still in the catalog of Felix Schoeller though, IMHO the actual manufacturer;

https://www.felix-schoeller.com/en_en/business-unit/photographic-digital-printing-papers/products/j23160-true-baryta-310.html

Edit: only about 3 of the papers shown in the SpectrumViz screengrab are still available in the EU shops, other ones are not or in short supply.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
March 2017 update, 750+ inkjet media white spectral plots

[BrianWJH]

Still in the catalog of Felix Schoeller though, IMHO the actual manufacturer


Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
March 2017 update, 750+ inkjet media white spectral plots

Yes, I agree and also the supplier for Epson Legacy versions.

Brian

[ajz]

As a follow up to my earlier question about finding Ilford GFS, I can still find boxes of A3+ around, for purchase, BUT - do these baryta papers like Ilford or Canson have a shelf life to them ; if I were to not use a box for a year?

thanks,

aj

[Alan Goldhammer]

As a follow up to my earlier question about finding Ilford GFS, I can still find boxes of A3+ around, for purchase, BUT - do these baryta papers like Ilford or Canson have a shelf life to them ; if I were to not use a box for a year?

thanks,

aj

As long as the temperature and humidity are in normal ranges, the paper should be good to go.  I've had paper for 2-3 years and printed with no issues.

[JRSmit]

As promised, I tested a version 2 of the paper and this is the outcome:
Paper whiteness is slightly less than the previous (v1) , and known under different brands.
L 98.6 -vs L 97.3 , the a and b values are about 0 (for the v1 the a and b values varied a bit per badge like between 0.0 and (-) 0.1, the L value between 98.0 and 98.6)
Also apparently less OBA
The White-2-Black curve (measured with a step-wegde linear Lab steps of 2%, printed from Lightroom - with the new profile and Relative Colorimetric) is identical. Again this varied a bit between the badges of the v1.
The colour behaviour and the "volume" of the profile is quite similar.
The surface texture is a bit more pronounced, the sheen more satiny-mat i.e. bit less shiny (very small specks?)

My printer Epson SCP9000 did have problems with cutting the paper, at the same time not so with the v1.

Note: I did not test the v2 with a v1 profile.