Fujifilm Crystal Archive Type II Paper (20 x 24", Matte, 50 Sheets)

Comments about Fujifilm Crystal Archive Type II Paper (20 x 24", Matte, 50 Sheets):

While you can achieve fine prints from high contrast negatives on this paper, it's not very good for medium to low contrast negatives. Thin or underexposed negatives don't print at all well on Fuji Type II. This was not the case with the discontinued Fuji Type C paper, which had more contrast and was better for optical printing of most negatives. Fuji Type II is much closer to Fuji Type P paper which was marketed for portrait and wedding printing and was also lower contrast than Type C. I have had to adjust the way I shoot the negatives, because there is nothing much that can be done to increase the contrast of the paper. I now overexpose film (Kodak new Portra 400 or Fuji Pro400H in 120/220 size) by one stop EI in shooting, then have the film pushed 1-2 stops in development by my lab. This results in negatives that print well on Fuji Type II.

Another disappointment of Fuji Type II paper is the packaging compared to the way Fuji Type C and Type P papers. Gone are the heavy duty boxes and thick light proof bag that protected Fuji's old color papers. Gone is the card stock stiffener packed with the old papers to make them easier to transfer to a paper safe. Because Type II paper is slightly thinner than the previous papers, it bends and flops around more easily. This makes it a bit harder to work with in the darkroom, particularly when moving large numbers of sheets and handling large paper sizes like 20x24" or 16x20." Fuji needs to package large sizes of Type II with a cardboard stiffener.

Another annoyance I have also noticed is with the actual box. When stored in a refrigerator or cold room, the shiny paper covered boxes often get moldy due to condensation on the paper. While you can kill the mold with an alcohol wipe down, I think they need to go back to the older matte brown paper covered boxes that never had this problem.

I sincerely hope that Fuji will upgrade the Type II paper packaging to their old standards. But I would be really happiest if the company would market a new higher contrast color paper in cut sheets for color photographers: an improved version of their last generation of Type C paper is needed.

Comments about Fujifilm Crystal Archive Type II Paper (20 x 24", Matte, 50 Sheets):

[...]for a gallery show. Looked great!