Digital BW, The Print

Miguel,

I use mostly Epson Archival Matte (EAM) for the MIS quads.  I like it's
smooth surface, very good blacks and fade resistance.  It doesn't hurt that
it is also dirt cheap relative to most of the other papers that come close
to its quality.

(EAM's modest price is, in part, due to its wood-pulp cellulose source.
However, it is supposed to be lignin free -- lignin being the source of the
acid reserve in wood-pulp, and acid will ultimately destroy the cellulose.
The debate as to whether it has the ultra-long-term staying power of a
rag/cotton-based paper is unresolved in my mind.  Some experts claim that
properly processed wood pulp can be archival.  At any rate, I'm more
interested in image permanence than ultimate paper fiber life, and EAM is
close the the best there for pigmented inks.)

Pigmented inks just don't do well on glossy and semi-gloss papers.  They can
be used, but a spray coat is needed to stop them from smudging, "bronzing"
and "dusting."

I came from the air-dried, "F" surface, silver print school of thought and
prefer that silver print surface.  These matte papers are dull compared to
that surface.  However, I mount them under glass, and with that display
mode, I think they end up being about the same as what I prefer.

If you do want a glossier look, try Brightcube Semi-Matte sprayed with
Krylon UV Resistant Clear (#1305)-- 3 to four light coats -- per Robert
Morrison's posts on this forum.

For a heavier paper with a little more surface texture, try the Hahnemuhle
line.

Many also like the Eclipse papers.  I'm probably going to try the soft white
version with no optical brighteners for preservation purposes.

An old standard that is worth trying is Somerset Enhanced.  (I have a
transfer function that helps profile this paper.)

There is an almost endless number of papers to try.  I'd recommend starting
with EAM to get a standard against which to compare the others.  Also, it
will hold down the costs of learning the system.  At www.atlex.com it is
very cheap, especially when several boxes are ordered at a time to hold down
handling costs.

Good luck.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com



_____________________________________________________


  -----Original Message-----
  From: n3wskin [mailto:prof_migas@...]
  Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 6:54 AM
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: Re: [Digital BW] MIS inks and Epson


  Thanx Paul,

  I think I will get an Epson 870 for BW Prints, and use your variable
  mix quad workflow with the epson drivers (pc version).

  Just wondering what kind of paper is best suitable for these inks
  and printer? (I like glossy and semiglossy on color prints)

  Thank you

  Miguel


  --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Paul Roark"
  <paul.roark@v...> wrote:
  > Miguel,
  >
  > If you are interested in the variable-tone inksets, the MIS
  website has a
  > list of printers for which there are control curves.
  >
  > For the FS inksets, the Piezo driver is needed for most, although
  there are
  > some Epson driver workflows for some quadtone printers.
  >
  > Check out the workflows on the MIS website, it there is not
  workflow posted,
  > I'd be hesitant to use the printer-inkset combination unless you
  are
  > proficient with making Photoshop image adjustment curves to
  control quadtone
  > inks.
  >
  > Paul
  > http://www.PaulRoark.com
  >
  >
  >
  > ________________________________________________
  >   -----Original Message-----
  >   From: n3wskin [mailto:prof_migas@h...]
  >   Sent: Saturday, June 01, 2002 5:32 PM
  >   To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y...
  >   Subject: [Digital BW] MIS inks and Epson
  >
  >
  >   I recently posted the message number 15190 -  "MIS Quadtone inks
  and
  >   Epson 780 (790 in Europe) ", but I guess nobody could answer me,
  so
  >   I am going to ask a different question:
  >
  >   Considering that I would like to give it a try and use MIS  quad
  >   inks, what type should I be using and with what epson A4 printer?
  >   (not the A3 printers, those are too much for my budget). What
  about
  >   good workflows and a good paper combination for it?
  >
  >   I´m trying to find someone who uses a similar setup to the one I
  >   want to make.
  >
  >   Thanx
  >
  >   Miguel
  >
  >
  >
  >
  >
  > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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