Digital BW, The Print

Hi Mike,

Well Hahnemule German Etching and Photo Rag also have brighteners and 
the only one I am sure doesn't is Museo.

Remember there are three factors, paper permanence (which we know a 
lot about), image permanence (which we know little about other than 
some comparision testing) and finally artistic considerations.

EAM is still a favorite with many people because of its good blacks, 
white base and it has a very smooth tonal range. It has also 
demonstrated good image permanence in a number of tests people have 
devised. Unfortunately it is not acid free and its paper permanence 
is in doubt. The OBA content is there but window fading reports 
suggest the fadeout of the oBA is not a big problem.

LPM is even brighter and has perhaps even deeper blacks and is non-
acid. Not image permanece data but paper permanence should be in 
the "archival range". Good tonality but may be too white for some 
people's tastes. Looks like it probably has lots of OBA and we do not 
know how they will fade out.

At the moment I would take the LPM over the EAM because of the acid 
issue. Likewise the Eclipse Satine. Hope to get some answers on the 
image permanence and OBA fade in the near future.

I have not seen any of the Epson Fine Art Smooth. I believe it is 
available only in rolls. So I can't comment on that one.

I think that a lot of people will risk some of the archival and OBA 
issues to have brighter, smoother papers for their work. So still no 
easly answers 

Martin



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., mh@t... wrote:
> you guys!  LPM and EAM are brighter because they use brighteners!
> These papers will eventually be the same white (or worse) as the 
ones 
> that don't use whiteners. I know this is a touchy subject that 
isn't 
> completely proven yet so I guess we will see.
> 
>  The idea with Photo Rag was to produce a very archival 100% rag 
paper 
> (supposedly Hahnemühle German Etching 310/Orwell is not a 100% rag 
> paper)  I think they intentionally didn't make it as smooth as EAM 
> because then it would feel even cheaper, you know? People want a $5 
> sheet of paper to look a little different.
> 
> Why are you guys still considering EAM when it's coating and base 
paper 
> are both acidic? Not to mention the Epson markings on back!
> 
> How does Epson Fine Art Smooth (I haven't used it yet) compare to 
Photo 
> Rag?
> 
> -mikeH
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Martin Wesley" <
> mwesley250@e...> wrote:
> > Jann,
> > 
> > If you want to go in that direction, then there is the Legion 
Photo 
> > Matte which is maybe a tiny, tiny bit smoother than EAM and 
> > significantly brighter. Works well with cooler inks as the base 
> > almost has a touch of blue. Very nice with the MIS VM with the 
> > neutral curve. Not such a good match with the Piezo inks to my 
eye.
> > 
> > I rather like the HPR surface myself. Not too smooth, not too 
rough. 
> > But we all have our own preferences. I am just glad to see the 
> > selection continue to widen. In another year there will be 
something 
> > for just about everyone!
> > 
> > Martin
> > 
> > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Jann Lipka " 
<polski@s...> 
> > wrote:
> > > I`m also a bit dissapointed about Hanhemule " Photo Rag "
> > > It `s surface is not so smooth .
> > > I hoped more for EAM smoothness with much more  weight  .
> > > Well, I think EAM is white enough for me too ....
> > > ( Phot Rag is a bit more yellow )
> > > Some suggestions ?