Arista EDU Ultra VC FB Paper, 5x7", Glossy, 100 Sheets

SKU: AR18857 MFR: 18857
$79.99
$87.99
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Key Features

  • Create stunning black and white prints with this 5x7" Arista enlarging paper.
  • Achieve exceptional tonal range in your darkroom prints using multigrade contrast.
  • Enjoy the rich blacks & bright whites on this glossy fiber base photo paper.
  • This neutral tone, double weight paper ensures archival quality for lasting prints.
  • Perfect for beginners & pros, each pack contains 100 sheets of B&W paper.
  • Experiment with variable contrast to bring your creative vision to life today!
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Special Order?Estimated to Ship: 08/19/2025
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Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2021-03-19T08:12:51

Rated 4 out of 5

It is a decent paper, and economical

It is a good paper, and does work well with split grade exposures very well, however the light cream color base tends to give a greyish cast to intermediate highlights.

John M.

2020-12-27T12:54:31

Rated 5 out of 5

My go-to paper, it's wonderful!

Lovely, lovely paper, although I will note that sometimes exposure changes with a new box. That being said, the texture is that of a semi-gloss inkjet paper with a subtle, horizontal ripple across the surface giving it a very nice and understated look with a mild, diffuse gloss. If dried against a ferrotyping surface it does indeed produce a mirror-like gloss surface, although in practice this is almost impossible to achieve reliably these days without access to the now-historic chemistry needed to use old ferrotyping plates. Great detail in shadows and nice highlights. Response to Ilford contrast filters are as expected. It takes a very mild purple tint with very deep blacks in 1:3 selenium and barely any shift in 1:20 selenium. Without any toning it has a charcoal color with maybe a very slight dark greenish/yellowish tint, but it's subtle. I feel lucky to have access to such an affordable yet high quality darkroom paper.

Julius S.

2020-12-27T12:46:00

Rated 3 out of 5

11x14 has a wildly different finish than the 8x10 paper of same name

The 11x14 FB VC Glossy seems to be dramatically different than the Arista EDU FB VC Glossy in 5x7 and 8x10, both of which have a slightly textured, almost ripply surface which i'd describe as semi-gloss compared to an inkjet glossy paper, however when dried on a ferrotyping surface it does indeed become mirror-smooth. It also has no reflectivity difference between shadows and highlights. The 11x14, however, is far more matte than the smaller sizes, lacking in the rippled, art-paper texture that I love in the 8x10. The 11x14 also has a very major and very noticeable reflectivity difference between the shadows and highlights, with the shadows being much less reflective - it looks like a cheap inkjet without a chroma optimizer. The tonality and exposure times appear, however to be exactly the same as the 8x10 and 5x7 papers, which is great for testing prior to exposing an entire sheet at 11x14. Honestly I would rather spend the extra money and get a different brand than buy another pack of this, as it does not match the look and feel of their smaller sizes of what is supposed to be the same paper. Highly recommend FB VC Glossy in smaller sizes though!!

Julius S.

2020-06-15T18:01:33

Rated 4 out of 5

Not Bad At All

I find this fiber base paper to be a very good product for making traditional photographs. So far, the only developer I've used with this paper is Ilford Multigrade, which is an excellent all-around print developer (different developers will produce different results.) The results were prints with excellent details in both highlights and shadow areas; blacks are velvety. Some of the prints were later toned with a Fomatone Sepia kit. I gave each print a light bleach bath followed (after a water wash) with a standard toning bath. After washing the prints, again, they would receive and selenium toning bath in order to further deepen the blacks (1:20 dilution.) All being said, the quality of the photos one gets from this Arista EDU Ultra VC FB or any other paper is determined, ultimately, by the skills of the printer. This paper can respond well with minimum fuss, but, with ambitions on the part of the printer, it can follow those ambitions. I suppose I could have given it five stars, but, when I remember the legendary papers that are no longer made, like Ilford Gallerie and Kodak's Elite and Ektalure, then I get so sad from their absence from the scene. I will be reordering Arista EDU when I need it.

JOHN K.

2019-02-26T10:18:21

Rated 3 out of 5

More of a Blahh...

Wasn't what I expected. First sheet of paper when to waste because I couldn't tell the difference between the front or back. The quality of paper is good but I do not like the matte finish. I just ordered a pack of 25 of the glossy fiber paper. The photos also came back darker, I wasn't impressed.

Audris V.

Arista Ultra VC FB Paper Specifications

  • Paper Type

    Negative

  • Base Type

    Fiber Base / Double Weight

  • Surface Finish

    Glossy

  • Contrast

    Multigrade

  • Tone

    Neutral

  • Quantity

    100 Sheets

  • Dimensions (W x L)

    5 x 7" (12.7 x 17.8cm)

  • UPC Code

    614572188570

About Arista Ultra VC FB Paper

FEATURED REVIEWS

My go-to paper, it's wonderful!

By Julius S.

Lovely, lovely paper, although I will note that sometimes exposure changes with a new box. That being said, the texture is that of a semi-gloss inkjet paper with a subtle, horizontal ripple across the surface giving it a very nice and understated look with a mild, diffuse gloss. If dried against a ferrotyping surface it does indeed produce a mirror-like gloss surface, although in practice this is almost impossible to achieve reliably these days without access to the now-historic chemistry nee...

View full Review

While the Arista.EDU Ultra VC FB paper sets the standard for professional black and white photographic printing, its versatility is unmatched. This high-quality, double-weight fiber base paper is engineered for those who demand durability and a glossy finish that accentuates the depth and clarity of their images. The variable contrast feature of this paper allows photographers to fine-tune their prints with ease, using yellow and magenta filters to navigate through a spectrum of contrast grades, from soft grays to deep blacks, akin to the range found in graded papers.

The Arista.EDU Ultra VC FB paper is designed to work harmoniously with tungsten or tungsten quartz halogen light sources, ensuring consistent contrast values across prints. The exposure process is streamlined, with the speed rating for Ilford Multigrade filters maintaining uniformity from grades 00 to 3.5, and only a modest increase in exposure required for grades 4 to 5.

In the darkroom, the paper should be handled under standard OC, red, or sodium vapor safelights, with precautions taken to minimize exposure to safelight to prevent fogging. The paper's processing is adaptable, suitable for both tray and machine processing methods that are compatible with photographic papers on a baryta base. However, it is important to note that activation/stabilization processing is not applicable for this paper type.

Developing the Arista.EDU Ultra VC FB paper is straightforward, with a typical development time of 90 to 120 seconds at 68°F (20°C), following the developer manufacturer's guidelines. To halt development and enhance the fixer's lifespan, a standard stop bath should be used for at least 20-30 seconds within the recommended temperature range. If opting for water as a stop bath, frequent changes are necessary to avoid developer accumulation.

Fixing is efficiently achieved within 3-5 minutes at 68°F (20°C) in a standard fixing solution. To ensure the longevity of your prints, a thorough wash of 35-45 minutes in running water is recommended, with the use of a hypo clearing agent to reduce wash time and conserve water.

For optimal preservation, the Arista.EDU Ultra VC FB paper should be stored in a cool, dry place. If long-term storage is required, a freezer can be utilized, but it is crucial to allow the paper to acclimate to room temperature before use and prevent condensation. To safeguard the integrity of the paper, it should be kept away from harmful vapors and gases and stored in its original packaging when not in use.

This professional, versatile, and affordable Arista.EDU Ultra VC FB paper is the preferred choice for photographers seeking to produce high-quality, glossy black and white prints that stand the test of time.

Arista Ultra VC FB Paper Features

  • Traditional Black and White Paper
  • Variable Contrast (VC)
  • Fiber Base
  • Develop in standard black and white chemicals
  • Compatible with Kodak, Varycon and Ilford filters

Key Features

  • Create stunning black and white prints with this 5x7" Arista enlarging paper.
  • Achieve exceptional tonal range in your darkroom prints using multigrade contrast.
  • Enjoy the rich blacks & bright whites on this glossy fiber base photo paper.
  • This neutral tone, double weight paper ensures archival quality for lasting prints.
  • Perfect for beginners & pros, each pack contains 100 sheets of B&W paper.
  • Experiment with variable contrast to bring your creative vision to life today!

What's in the box:

  • 100x Ultra VC FB Paper Sheets (Glossy)