Digital BW, The Print

On 10-07-27 3:32 PM, "Keith" <kjrslr@...> wrote:

> I had the chance to spend a short amount of time recently at one of the stores
> here and they had some new Canson papers that I had not seen before. I didn't
> have a lot of time to look and compare, but was wondering if some of you could
> give me your impressions of the Platine Fibre and the Baryta Photographique.
> Both are 310 gsm and use PK ink. I've also have been reading about Jon Cone's
> Type 5 and am intrigued by it as well. Any comments you have would be
> welcomed. 

I've gone through a roll of Cone Type 5, and I'm about to order a box of
17x22. This is my core gloss paper now, and I'm quite attached to it.

Cone Type 5 a very elegant paper. It's a warmer paper than Canson Baryta
Photographique, very similar to Silver Rag. It has a soft gloss, which is
more subtle than you see on Baryta Photographique. The Canson's texture is a
smooth, fine tooth whereas Type 5 has a subtle pattern. That pattern is very
elegant, and it gives the sense that you're looking at a beautiful rag
paper. It also feels like a rag paper, whereas I find that Baryta
Photographique has somewhat of a "plastic" feel.

Type 5 does not have OBA's, yet I don't feel it lacks any punch or presence
compared to Baryta Photographique or other bright OBA papers like Epson
Exhibition Fibre. Both Type 5 and Baryta Photographique have baryta
coatings, so both are sharp. If anything, I think Type 5 is a bit sharper,
but that may be due to a higher contrast on Type 5 with the image I'm
looking at.

My only niggle with Type 5 is that I have to take measures to prevent the
infamous white flex'. I hope this has been improved with the latest batch.

If you're partial to matte papers, but like the Dmax, saturation and dynamic
range of gloss, you will like Type 5. I have not seen anything else quite
like it.

Terry.