Digital BW, The Print

I recently picked up some Epson Professional Glossy paper (also known at
Epson Glossy Paper-photoweight in rolls) to test with my Epson 2200.  I sent
targets down to Colorbyte to have both color and BW profiles made for
Imageprint.  These are now available to imageprint users on their web site
(as well as both color and BW 2200/photo black profiles for Ilford Galerie
Smooth Pearl, Brightcube Semi-Matte and Generations Pro Photo Lustre).

I've just completed testing the paper for BW and I must say...this is the
digital air dried silver print that we have all been waiting for.  The
surface is a dead ringer and the blacks are great (2.11 dmax) with the
Ultrachrome Photo Black.  The very light texture does a nice job of hiding
the 2200/Imageprint dither in the hilights. The tint picker provides a nice
range of tones from cool to warm.  My main concerns are longevity and paper
weight.  Epson (Wilhelm) has rated Ultrachrome prints on this paper at 50
years...right in line with most of their other papers but it certainly
doesn't feel like a premium paper.  Its light in weight (215gm) compared to
the 280-300gm papers that I'm used to and the backing paper is somewhat
yellow.  I imagine that longevity won't be any worse that EEM though.  That
said, it lays flat and looks like it would dry mount well.  My main hope is
that someone in this business has their eyes open and sees that this surface
is what we need...just on slightly heavier acid free, preferably rag stock.
I'm very excited to see how Paul Roark's new VM ink set works on the Pro
Photo Glossy, this could result in similar success with quad systems.

One problem with the Epson Pro Glossy is price...it is like many of premium
inkjet papers out there, expensive at over a dollar a sheet.  In comparison
the Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl is a great value with similar performance
(25 cents a sheet if you buy the 250 sheet box)...but unlike the Epson Pro
Glossy it still has some bronzing/reflectance issues and unrated longevity.
I don't believe the brightcube paper is still available, but for a very
brightened lustre finish paper for commercial work the Generations Pro Photo
Lustre is also a good value, like the Ilford.

Robert