Digital BW, The Print

I just received a pack of Legion Photo Matte (LPM).  It has been getting
such good reviews, I was most interested.  I printed the usual 21-step test
file, using the MIS variable-tone inks with the neutral-cool curve.  I also,
of course, printed a number of photos with the various curves to see how
they looked, especially compared to Epson Archival Matte (EAM), which is
still my paper of choice.

I put the LPM test strip and an EAM test strip in the scanner and scanned
the images together.  The results of the scan are as follows:

The LPM paper white has a lower luminance (brightness) than EAM and the LPM
is rather cyan-blue, whereas the EAM is slightly green-yellow.  The precise
RGB readings are

LPM R/G/B = 242/245/247
EAM       = 246/247/245

The EAM black test patch is about 2% darker than the LPM's.  So, with about
a 1% brighter white and 2% darker black, the EAM has about a 3% greater
dynamic range than the LPM.

Holding the test photos up to a matted silver print, the LPM cold paper tone
seems to clash with the normal matte board I use.  This LPM is one cold
paper.

Aside from the clash with my usual matte board, I can see why people who
like really cool-tone prints like the LPM paper.  The cooler highlights with
the neutral-cool curve (and cold curve) give the image a distinctly cooler
look, even if the midtones are really not much different than EAM's.

The paper may be just too cold for me, however.

I'll fade test the MIS variable-tone inks on it soon.  My Museo test will
reach 200 hours Wednesday night, and I'll switch over to LPM then.  So, I'll
be able to have some initial (100 hour) results by early next week.  The
really bad papers show there stuff -- or lack thereof -- rather quickly.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com