Digital BW, The Print

Robert,

on 01/25/03 3:27 AM, "Robert Morrison" <morrison@...> wrote:
 
>On 1/23/03 5:40 PM, "Paul Roark" <paul.roark@...> wrote:

>> I wonder if this is an RC paper that would work well with the new
>> RC-compatible inksets.  I'd like to find some good alternatives to Premium
>> Luster and full-on glossy RC paper.

>Yes, the Ilford Gallerie Smooth is the best of the pearl/luster RC papers,
>feel/surface wise...it was just a shame how poorly it performed with the
>quads...my guess is that it will work fine with the Epson 10000 black ink.
>I'll try some with the Ultrachromes tomorrow.  Its also cheap and available
>in 250 sheet boxes.
>Robert

I agree that out of the group of Ilford Galerie RC-type papers the 
Smooth surface is the best-looking. I tried it with MIS original quads 
early last year, and had the same poor result you report. Last week 
I did some Black-Only prints on it with my C80 -- I was curious about 
whether the C80's Durachrome black (like the UC Matte Black, not micro-
encapsulated) would do better at getting into the Ilford Smooth's coating.
It did, but there was still a gloss difference between the shadows and 
the rest of the tones. However, after spraying these prints with 
Lumijet -- 2 light coats and a 3rd heavy coat, which warmed the image 
noticeably (but not too much for me) -- only vestiges of the 
gloss differences were visible, and then only when I looked very closely.
After the spraying, I have to say that I think the print surface looked 
quite good.

Since the Epson 10000's Archival black IS encapsulated, I'd expect the 
kind of (pre-spray) gloss difference I found would be reduced, if not 
absent altogether, on Galerie Smooth.

Yesterday, I got a sample of Epson Professional Glossy paper (only 
available in cut-sheets in 13x19) and tried it, too, with the C80's black.
The tone of the black before spraying (haven't sprayed it yet)was much 
warmer than with the that Ilford Galerie Smooth's after spraying. 
Also, the ink seemed to get into the paper a little more. It strikes me 
that Professional Glossy might be an interesting paper for duotones. 

Robert, on a different note, I'd like to ask if you're still planning 
to bring an acrylic print-coating product to market in the near-future? 
I'd like to stop using the spray-varnishes that now exceed my health-risk 
threshold (after spraying a batch of prints, I feel as lightheaded, etc. 
as after inhaling a cigarette for the 1st time following a 20-year 
stretch of no smoking).

John          
  
          





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]