Digital BW, The Print

For those that are interested, a little bird has just whispered in my year
that Epson Velvet Fine Art Paper and Somerset Velvet for Epson are the same
paper with different coatings. Epson Velvet Fine Art Paper (EVFA)  is coated
with Epson's own coating...most probably the same coating that is used on
Epson Archival Matte (Epson Enhanced Matte), Somerset Velvet for Epson (SVE)
is simply Somerset Enhanced offered as a roll and a heavier weight sheet.
In addition Epson has published separate longevity ratings for these two
papers...40  years for EVFA and 80-100 years.  This seems to be yet another
bad mark for using the Ultrachromes with the matte black.  That is, if you
want decent dmax (greater than 1.66), you will be limited to a 30-40 year
paper...given that Somerset Enhanced performs poorly with the Ultrachromes.
I haven't tested EVFA for dmax yet so I'm not sure whether it will equal EAM
which hits around 1.75.  Another issue is whether the 40 year rating.  This
rating MUST have been because of the coating, not the paper...because the
same paper is getting 80-100 years with a different coating.  That given,
the problems with longevity with epson's papers may be the COATING and not
just the paper as many of us have assumed previously.

Regardless, it reenforces to me that the best ways to use the Ultrachromes
are either on Epson Luster or Semigloss or on a fine art paper like Eclipse,
Museo, Photorag, SVE, Somerset Enhanced, and then coat the print after
printing to increase the dmax.

Robert

On 10/11/02 1:40 PM, "Robert Morrison" <rmorrison@pobox.com> wrote:

> Has any one used either Epson Velvet Fine Art Paper or Somerset Velvet for
> Epson with the Ultrachrome inks?  I'm particularly interested in dmax
> numbers for the matte black.  While you would think they would be the same
> paper  (one for small sheets, and one for large sheets and rolls), their
> specs on the epson web site (below) are different, leading me to wonder if
> they have the same coating. As far as I can tell this paper is the only hope
> for a matte fine art paper that performs as well as EAM with the
> Ultrachromes.
> 
> Robert
> 
> ---------------------------
> Epson Velvet Fine Art Paper
> Basis Weight: 260g/m2
> Thickness: 19 ml
> ISO Brightness: 94%
> Opacity: 96%
> Base Material: 100% Cotton Rag
> Surface Finish: Velvet
> 
> Somerset® Velvet for Epson
> Basis Weight: 255 g/m2 (roll)
> Thickness: 19 mil (roll)
> ISO Brightness: 96%
> Opacity 94.5% (roll)
> Base Material: 100% Cotton Rag
> Surface Finish: Velvet
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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