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Darkroom Papers: A Practical Comparison by Tom Warland
October 12, 2026

Darkroom Papers: A Practical Comparison by Tom Warland

Choosing a photographic paper is about far more than reading a list of specifications. The paper’s base colour, surface, image tone and construction all influence the character of the finished print, but those differences are best understood by seeing the papers used in the darkroom.

In his video “Darkroom Papers: A Practical Comparison,” photographer Tom Warland prints with an unusually varied selection of black-and-white papers. Alongside familiar resin-coated and fibre-based options from Kentmere, Ilford and Bergger, he experiments with warmtone and cooltone surfaces, Foma’s coloured Fomapastel papers, Film Washi’s handmade bamboo paper and Harman direct-positive material.

Watch “Darkroom Papers: A Practical Comparison” on YouTube and see what each paper brings to the image. It’s a practical and accessible comparison for anyone setting up a first darkroom, thinking about moving from RC to fibre paper, or searching for something more distinctive for a future print.

Featured papers: Kentmere VC Select Glossy, Ilford Multigrade Cooltone RC Glossy, Ilford Multigrade Warmtone RC Glossy, Ilford Multigrade FB Warmtone Semi-Matt, Bergger Prestige Variable CB FB Glossy, Foma Fomapastel Range, Film Washi B Bamboo Paper, Foma Fomaspeed N311 Glossy and Harman Direct Positive FB.

 

Filed in: Analogue Photography, Bergger, Black and White Photography, Darkroom Printing, Fibre-Based Paper, Film Photography, Foma, Harman, Ilford, Kentmere, Photographic Paper, Resin-Coated Paper, Tom Warland, Washi
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Kentmere VC Select Fine Lustre 8 x 10in 100 Sheets

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Kentmere VC Select is a medium-weight, resin-coated multi-contrast bromide-iodide paper. It exhibits neutral to cold tones from its bright white ...

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Kentmere VC Select Fine Lustre 5 x 7in 100 Sheets

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Kentmere VC Select is a medium-weight, resin-coated multi-contrast bromide-iodide paper. It exhibits neutral to cold tones from its bright white ...

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Ilford Multigrade FB Classic Glossy Paper (Select Sheet & Pack Size)

Ilford Multigrade FB Classic Glossy Paper Neutral image colour Richer blacks Sharper images Shorter exposure times Extended contrast range Excellen...

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Ilford Multigrade RC Deluxe Pearl 8 x 10in 100 Sheets

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Ilford Multigrade FB Classic Matt Paper (Select Sheet & Pack Size)

Ilford Multigrade FB Classic Matt Paper Neutral image colour Richer blacks Sharper images Shorter exposure times Extended contrast rang...

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Ilford Multigrade RC Deluxe Glossy 8 x 10in 100 Sheets

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Ilford Multigrade RC Deluxe Pearl 5 x 7in 100 Sheets

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Ilford Multigrade RC Deluxe Pearl 8 x 10in 25 Sheets

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Hahnemühle Platinum Rag 300gsm 8 x 10in 25 Sheets

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Firstcall Black Photographic Bags for 8 x 10 Paper - Pack of 20

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Kentmere VC Select Glossy 5 x 7in 100 Sheets

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Kentmere VC Select is a medium-weight, resin-coated multi-contrast bromide-iodide paper. It exhibits neutral to cold tones from its bright white...

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Ilford Multigrade RC Deluxe Pearl 5 x 7in 25 Sheets

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Kentmere VC Select Fine Lustre 8 x 10in 25 Sheets

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Kentmere VC Select is a medium-weight, resin-coated multi-contrast bromide-iodide paper. It exhibits neutral to cold tones from its bright white...

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Kentmere VC Select Glossy 8 x 10in 100 Sheets

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Bergger COT-320 Art 8 x 10in 25 Sheets

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Firstcall Black Photographic Bags for 5 x 7 Paper - Pack of 20

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Ilford Multigrade RC Deluxe Satin 8 x 10in 100 Sheets

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Ilford Multigrade RC Deluxe Glossy 5 x 7in 100 Sheets

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Jacquard Cyanotype Pretreated Fabric Sheets - 10 pack

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Jacquard Cyanotype Pretreated Fabric Sheets - 30 pack

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Firstcall Cyanotype Printing-Out Paper - 5 x 7in Pack of 10

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Ilford Multigrade RC Deluxe Glossy 9.5 x 12in 50 Sheets

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Kentmere VC Select Fine Lustre 5 x 7in 25 Sheets

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Ilford Multigrade RC Deluxe Glossy 4 x 5in 25 Sheets

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