I completely stopped using coated papers a couple of years ago, due to brightener fading, coating chipping and other "features" I did not care for. Just found a new one today that I thought people should know about:
When I was using coated papers, I brushed them briskly and carefully before printing, so any chips of coating would come off before, not after.
Nonetheless, a few prints still chipped after printing. So I would methodically check every print before signing, numbering and either matting or storing.
A few weeks ago I sold a somewhat older print and today went to get one from inventory and matte it. While thumbing through a box of prints looking for it, I noticed that some of my few remaining prints on coated paper had significant (1-2mm) round pieces of image/coating missing. (None of the prints on watercolor paper had pieces missing.) I checked enough older prints that there remains no doubt this is a pattern.
These holes can be spotted out, but the problem is, "How many prints will sprout holes after they are sold and out of our control?"
And the the problem is bigger. When I switched to watercolor papers, I also switched from HP to Epson, so my profiles for HP became useless and the HP inks would also be wasted. So, I used up all the Red River Aurora Natural, Entrada, Innova and other high end papers I had left over, making prints for inventory. It seems the delayed chipping is not confined by brand.
I suggest you check your own inventory for signs your stored prints may be throwing off pieces of themselves.
dk
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Re: [Digital BW] Yet another coated paper drawback...
2015-01-27 by Paul Roark
And for those who think glossy papers will do better, read this post:
(I trust the OP's work, above. He's a science-oriented, serious player for whom I did an Arches print, with his file.)
On the other hand, there is no doubt that the coated papers -- matte and glossy -- can make the smoothest, sharpest prints with the highest dynamic range. So, for other than long term stability, they can easily win the beauty contest, and that sells.
Paul
On Mon, Jan 26, 2015 at 9:09 AM, david@davidkachel.com [DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint] <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com> wrote: