Digital BW, The Print

Thanks Tyler. When I decided to switch from wet darkroom to an inkjet based one, about 4 years ago, I tested many fine art papers. I almost immediately embraced Magnani's stuff. Now I use 4 of them: the Pescia HP and CP for printing, the Vergata to protect the print itself during storage or shipping and the Velata for the Certificate of Authenticity. The latter is also wonderful for printing because of its contrast and smoothness of tones, if you like its quite warm tone. Unfortunately, as I already mentioned, it is not 100% rag.
Now I am in the process of peeking a fifth paper for printing a limited edition portfolio book. Magnani is famous for its edition papers which is used for special books. 

I do not chase the ultimate d-max of a paper, but rather good contrast and smoothness of tones, above all in the shadows. Those who appreciate platinum/palladium prints understand what I mean. With Carbon pigments inks, the final print on these papers resemble more etching or charcoal technique. Arches watercolor is also very nice in these respects, but I somehow dislike its surface. 

Printing with uncoated papers is extremely complex: it take a fine tuned combination of ink formulation, ink partitioning, printer setting and image preparation. I never succeeded using the OEM printer driver. 

Ciao,

  Mantinieri

http://www.mantinieri.com


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "tboleyyh" <tyler@...> wrote:
>
> Magnani papers are gorgeous, I tried like crazy to get Incisioni to take platinum decades back, but did not succeed. Todd Gangler is printing tri color carbro on a Magnani, but transfer processes may be less picky then chemical or inkjet.
> Good to hear you are having success with Pescia.
> Tyler
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Mantinieri" <mantinieri@> wrote:
> >
> > > 
> > > I'm not sure I can get that in the US.  I recall you mentioning that before, and I looked for  the paper.  My recollection is  that I failed to find any.
> > > 
> > 
> > As a matter of facts, I first got this paper in the US, during one of my frequent visits. The variety of fine art papers available in you Country is just astonishing and I take advantage of that for new experimets.
> > I have purchased my first sample of Magnani Pescia (bot hot press and cold press) at Jerry's Artarama. Blick also carries it on shelf.
> > Now I purchase large quantities directly from the manifacturer, near Florence (Italy).
> > 
> > The cold press version is a bit coarse for my taste, but it has the same d-max as Arches watercolor. The hot press surface is the one I really love, but it has a lower d-max: you need to prepare your file properly when printing. They both take a lot of ink. When coated with the Carbon-gelatine method it becomes a different story.
> > I like the way Arches watercolor responds in term of contrast; the only minor issue I have wit that is that it is a little too smooth for my taste.
> > Another paper that has the same d-max as Arches is Magnani Velata, but with a totally different tooth compared to the other papers mentioned above. Unfortunately, it is not 100% cotton. 
> > 
> > Ciao,
> > 
> >   Mantinieri
> > 
> > http://www.mantinieri.com
> >
>