Top Rated Gear

Ilford Harman Direct Positive FB1K Paper, Fiber Based Glossy Surface, 4x5" 25 Sheets

SKU: ILDPF4525G MFR: 1171158
$44.99
Earn VIP Reward Points

Key Features

  • Create stunning, direct positive prints with this Ilford 4x5" black & white paper.
  • Achieve rich, glossy prints with excellent image sharpness using fiber-based paper.
  • Enjoy a wide tonal range and superb contrast with this graded, easy-to-use paper.
  • Perfect for unique photography projects, get creative with direct positive prints!
  • Develop archival quality prints, ensuring your treasured images last for generations.
  • This 25-sheet pack of glossy surface paper is ideal for darkroom enthusiasts.
See More Product Details
On Backorder?Expected Availability: 10/2025Request assistance or get notified
Free Shipping

See Options

1

Need help? Ask our experts.

Overview
Compare
Q&A

Questions & Answers

Noelle W : Has anyone developed this with caffenol? I am working with grade school kids and am trying to minimize the use of toxic and/or hard-to-dispose-of chemicalsLOREE G : No, but I bought some with this in mind. Museum summer camp is back so I am going to pull it out of the closet and start experimenting. Thanks for the reminder.James B : I’m sorry I can’t say. I’ve only used the toxic methods. Best wishes and good luck!
DIANA S : How is this Harman Direct Positive paper developed? I have a 4x5 camera and have been experimenting with paper negatives. Do I follow the same process? Developer, stop bath, fixer, clear water wash?ED H : The paper is developed in the normal way, however, it requires a red safelight rather than the standard OC amber.BRIAN H : I have used highly diluted (1:100 ratio) Rodinal to develop in lieu of paper developers. I stand develop in a Stearman Press daylight tank for an hour. I use distilled water stop bath, Photographers Formulary T5 fixer and then final rinse in tap water. Keep in mind this is fiber based paper so it requires extended time to rinse out fixer compared to non-fiber papers. The tricky part with this finicky paper is exposure. I rate it at ISO 3 and pre-flash the paper in camera. I take a plain white sheet of paper and carefully cover the lens to not let light leak past the edge of the paper and give approximately a one second "pre-exposure". The emulsion is going to react differently depending on your light source and UV exposure. I have only shot it outdoors and with mixed success. It is great stuff if you can nail exposure properly. Good luck!James B : The technical notes concerning developing are on p.7 of the technical manual download. Search for Harman Direct Positive paper. There is a download available on the internet. I really enjoy working with this paper. Good luck!
Shopper : Why Did You Choose This?JONATHAN P : This comes highly recommended for pinhole photographyADAM H : I bought the pinstacamera and this was the photographic paper recommended. I'm excited!!!LORIE T : This is amazing stuff... pre expose for 3 seconds and it's not as contrasty.TRACY S : daughter wanted itAmy F : I am teaching and may use them in the future for class projectsBEN B : Respected brand, positive paperSHELBY M : Two make my first pinhole camera I got this for the filmPAUL M R : I am making a very large aperture 4X5 camera with slow shutter. I wanted film that might give me some interesting art effects.Mark D : I chose this because I wanted to use my 4 x 5 view camera.DIANA S : For use in my 4x5 Standard Camera with a pinhole lens - experimental photography.Tom M : Trying Pinhole Photography Using Direct Positive Paper. Wish me luck!Barbara Z : I use this in my physics class when we talk about optics and create pinhole cameras.LOREE G : experimentBarbara Z : I’m using this product for my physics class. Students made pinhole cameras as a project.Lori O : I'm planning to use the product for a summer art project with high school students.Charles G : Try itjames carmouche C : i love it!!

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2022-10-16T05:33:04

Rated 5 out of 5

Harman Harman Direct Positive FB1K Paper, Fiber Based Glossy Surface, 4x5" 25 Sheets

Its fun to work with. Been using it for pinhole photography.

Robert W.

2022-10-16T05:32:44

Rated 5 out of 5

Harman Harman Direct Positive FB1K Paper, Fiber Based Glossy Surface, 5x7" 25 Sheets

Its fun to work with. Been using it for pinhole photography.

Robert W.

2022-10-16T05:32:20

Rated 5 out of 5

Harman Harman Direct Positive FB1K Paper, Fiber Based Glossy Surface, 11x14" 10 Sheets

Its fun to work with. Been using it for pinhole photography.

Robert W.

2022-04-29T16:40:54

Rated 4 out of 5

Fun to play with

Lots of fun and quick result's.

Emmet M.

2019-06-20T04:21:28

Rated 5 out of 5

First-time Purchase, First-time Try

This purchase was for my very first attempt at pinhole photography and any time of photography where I developed anything myself, so I had no idea what to expect. I purchased this based off the reviews of others, and I have to say I was shocked at how well my first attempt came out. I run a summer camp and was experimenting with this process in order to determine if I could run this at camp. The photo was amazing, and I am grateful for a product that allows me to so easily develop a photo and to be able to skip the negative step.

Amy M.

2019-03-13T03:09:26

Rated 5 out of 5

Great p

This paper is a lot of fun to use - you have to really nail the exposure, a bit like using slide film, but once you figure it out this paper gives great results. Highly recommended!

MICHAEL S.

2018-09-04T11:39:53

Rated 5 out of 5

The Poor Man’s Polaroid

I started using this positive paper in place of film sheets in one of my 4x5” cameras in order to preview shots before committing to the larger 5x7”and 8x10” cameras, but love the fiber based final appearance. I don’t need a 4x5”, 5x7”, nor 8x10” enlarger... ‘Can just go directly to print. Although I have a 6x7cm enlarger, I now love just heading out with the 8x10” and going directly to large prints using tube developers. You could always have the print digitized or use as paper negatives.

JOHN M.

2017-05-21T21:20:54

Rated 5 out of 5

Fantastic paper, pity they're discontinued though

Fantastic paper, pity they're discontinued though

SUSSAN F.

2017-05-20T12:22:41

Rated 4 out of 5

Great product with supply problems

To reiterate what other reviews have said, this product is currently out of stock everywhere and has been for a few months, which is too bad. I use it mainly in my 4x5 technical camera, and while it's a tricky beast, great results are possible. If you want something other than extreme contrast then pre-flashing is necessary. Follow Ilford's recommendations on this procedure, rate at around !SO 3, and meter carefully. Post-flashing is also possible, and using an Ilford multigrade no.5 filter will allow you to increase the brightness of highlights, whites, and midtones while affecting blacks and dark greys less, which I didn't expect with this paper, but it works! I discovered this when I underexposed a set of images.

JOSEPH M.

2017-05-15T14:35:35

Rated 3 out of 5

Who cares if you can't buy it.

The 4x5 size has been on back order for months. Are they still making the stuff? It is impossible to get here or at the other place in NYC. I bought a box, liked it, wanted to start offering it in my business but what is the point.

LANCE W.

2014-03-31T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

I only need you to continue producing it

I was lucky and privileged being able buy the last few boxes of this product available at Adorama. I understand that there have been some production issues and this product is no longer available. As a committed user of this product, I would like to add my voice to others, inciting Harman/Ilford to do their best to resume production and distribution of this truly valuable and unique product as soon as possible. In a world of digital perfection and impermanence, there are still many, like myself, able to value and make the best of this beautiful paper as an in-camera-positive. Whenever I teach alternative photography workshops, I can have my students experiment more with this paper, due to the much lower price than 4x5 sheet film. Also, students are able to follow and learn the entire loading/unloading and development procedure under safelight, which is something extremely beneficial for those who just begin to learn darkroom techniques. Well, I could go on and on, singing praises of Harman Direct Positive paper and the need for this product to be re-introduced on the market. But, poetry aside, merely from a business point of view, I would ask Harman Ilford not to fail analog photographers like other companies have done before. You are the last company we can consistently trust for the best Black and White film stocks and papers. As I am sure your research and development department must know, there is currently a rather big resurgence in analog (and alternative) photography techniques, worldwide and your help would be very welcome, right now. My humble request is not just about saving a niche (albeit unique) product, it is about asking your help in preserving a photographic practice and tradition that can only be passed on to future generations until specific tools and media remain available. Sincerely, G S

GS

2013-03-11T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Takes awhile to figure out

It took me awhile to get the exposures correct. You have to reverse your thinking, because it is a positive - not negative. Fun to play with.

HWPhoto

About Ilford FB1K

FEATURED REVIEWS

Harman Harman Direct Positive FB1K Paper, Fiber Based Glossy Surface, 4x5" 25 Sheets

By Robert W.

Its fun to work with. Been using it for pinhole photography.

Harman Harman Direct Positive FB1K Paper, Fiber Based Glossy Surface, 5x7" 25 Sheets

By Robert W.

Its fun to work with. Been using it for pinhole photography.

HARMAN DIRECT POSITIVE FB paper is primarily suited for use in pinhole cameras where exposure and processing in conventional black and white photo chemistry achieves a unique positive print - without the need for a film negative or inter-negative.

HARMAN DIRECT POSITIVE FB paper can also be successfully used in other applications such as direct exposure in large format cameras or by cutting small sheets for exposure in LOMO type cameras. Creative and unusual effects can be achieved when used to make photograms or perhaps substituted for standard photo paper when printing from negatives in an enlarger

Ilford FB1K Features

  • Positive' paper - no need for a negative
  • Genuine silver gelatine photo paper
  • Coated on 225 gsm Fibre Baryta base
  • Fixed grade, high contrast paper
  • Glossy surface
  • Slow ISO speed (around ISO 3)

Key Features

  • Create stunning, direct positive prints with this Ilford 4x5" black & white paper.
  • Achieve rich, glossy prints with excellent image sharpness using fiber-based paper.
  • Enjoy a wide tonal range and superb contrast with this graded, easy-to-use paper.
  • Perfect for unique photography projects, get creative with direct positive prints!
  • Develop archival quality prints, ensuring your treasured images last for generations.
  • This 25-sheet pack of glossy surface paper is ideal for darkroom enthusiasts.