FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” – Premium Quality Paper (10 Sheets)

Introduction:

For photographers who prefer classic darkroom printing with predictable, consistent results, FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” stands out as one of the most reliable normal-grade RC papers available today. Manufactured by FOMA Bohemia—one of the world’s oldest and most respected photographic companies—this paper is built for photographers who want clean tonal reproduction, excellent exposure control, and a naturally balanced contrast profile.

The FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” paper maintains the brand’s traditional quality while offering modern improvements in coating technology, drying behavior, and surface finish. This makes it an excellent choice for students, hobbyists, and professional printers who desire a clean matte look with a neutral base tone.

What Makes FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” Special?

Unlike variable-contrast papers, which require filters to control contrast, FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” is a fixed normal-grade paper. This means the contrast is already calibrated to a Grade 2 equivalent—perfect for everyday darkroom work where consistency is more important than flexibility.

This paper’s extra-white matte finish produces beautifully smooth whites, deep blacks, and a soft overall aesthetic. Whether you are working on portrait prints, fine-art monochrome enlargements, or simple contact sheets, FOMASPEED 312N delivers reliable performance with minimal adjustments needed.

Key Features of FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5”

1. Normal-Grade Contrast for Reliable Output

Because FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” is Grade N (Normal), it offers a balanced contrast curve right out of the box. This is ideal for photographers using negatives with a standard density range.
It eliminates the need for multigrade filters, making your workflow faster and simpler.

2. Resin-Coated for Fast Processing and Drying

The RC (resin-coated) base ensures:

• Shorter washing times
• Faster drying
• Minimal curl
• Long-lasting archival stability

This makes FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” especially useful for darkrooms with high output volume or for workshops and student printing.

3. Extra White Matte Surface

The matte surface gives a fine, subtle texture that reduces reflections and enhances the paper’s artistic appeal.

Benefits of the matte finish:

• Excellent for portraits
• Naturally diffused highlights
• Smooth tonal rendering
• Ideal for framing under glass

4. High-Quality Tonal Range

The paper is engineered to deliver:

• Crisp highlights
• Deep but controlled blacks
• Smooth mid-tone transitions

This tonal balance is one reason printers continue to prefer FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” over many modern alternatives.

Darkroom Handling and Processing Guide

To achieve the best results from FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5”, it is important to choose compatible developers and follow proper processing times. This paper works exceptionally well with standard RC paper developers.

Recommended Developers:

• FOMA LQN Paper Developer
• Adox Adotol Konstant
• Ilford Multigrade Developer
• Kodak Polymax

With FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5”, you can expect consistent results across all major developers, but many users prefer the slightly warmer tone achieved with FOMA’s own chemistry.

Processing Steps:

1. Develop: 60–90 seconds
2. Stop Bath: 10–20 seconds
3. Fix: 60–90 seconds
4. Wash: 2–4 minutes
5. Drying: Air dry or RC dryer

The RC base ensures minimal water absorption, preserving sharpness and speed.

Who Should Use FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5”?

The versatility of FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” makes it suitable for:

• Beginner photographers learning darkroom printing
• Students in photography courses
• Professional printers who need predictable contrast
• Artists wanting a Matt white fine-art look
• Photographers producing test prints or contact sheets

Its predictable behavior makes it especially useful when consistency is more important than contrast variability.

Applications of FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5”

Here are the most common uses of FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5”:

• Portrait enlargements
• Fine art exhibitions
• Monochrome documentary work
• Contact sheets
• Test prints before final enlargements
• Studio darkroom practice sessions

Because of its matte surface and bright base, the paper is also suitable for prints intended for framing.

Why Choose FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” Over Other Normal-Grade Papers?

There are several reasons photographers choose FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5”:

• Reliable European manufacturing
• Stable contrast performance
• Affordable pricing compared to Ilford FB or RC papers
• Excellent texture and archival properties
• Shorter wash times with RC base

With many premium papers becoming expensive or hard to find, FOMASPEED 312N remains a widely trusted option.

Internal Links (Onestopphoto.in Products)

• FOMA LQN Paper Developer
• Fomaspeed Variant Multigrade Filters
• Ilford Photo Chemicals
• Darkroom Accessories
• Safety Lights & Darkroom Tools

Learn More (Authoritative Resources)

• FOMA Bohemia Official Website: https://www.foma.cz
• Darkroom Printing Techniques Guide (Ilford Photo): https://www.ilfordphoto.com/darkroom-guides
• Kodak Chemical Information: https://www.kodak.com/en/motion/support/processing
• Analog Photography User Guide: https://www.photrio.com/forum

Using FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” with Toners

Matte papers respond beautifully to toners.
You may tone FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” with:

• Selenium Toner
• Sepia Toner
• Blue/Gold Toners

Toning increases archival life and introduces subtle shifts in the image tone.

Conclusion

FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” is one of the most dependable normal-grade RC papers available for black-and-white darkroom printing. With its resin-coated base, extra-white matte surface, rapid processing time, and consistent tonal performance, it’s ideal for beginners and professionals who want straightforward, reliable results. Its balanced contrast and clean surface finish make it a perfect choice for portraits, fine-art prints, test sheets, and everyday enlargements.

Whether you’re learning darkroom printing or producing high-quality exhibition work, FOMASPEED 312N delivers the consistency and beauty that traditional analog printing demands.

 FAQs About FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5”

1. Is FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” multigrade?

No. It is a normal-grade (fixed contrast) paper, equivalent to Grade 2.

2. What surface finish does it have?

It has an extra-white matte finish, ideal for fine-art prints and portraits.

3. Is this paper suitable for beginners?

Yes, FOMASPEED 312N 7×9.5” is excellent for beginners because it requires no contrast filters.

4. Can this paper be toned?

Yes. It works well with selenium, sepia, and blue/gold toners.

5. How many sheets does the pack contain?

This package contains 10 high-quality RC sheets.

6. Which developers work best with this paper?

FOMA LQN, Adotol, Ilford Multigrade, and Kodak Polymax all work very well.