Digital BW, The Print

Saturday, May 17, 2003, 10:04:33 PM, Paul Roark wrote:

PR> I just printed MIS UT inks with the Eboni black on the new Arches Infinity
PR> paper.  (Thanks John E. for sending the samples.)

PR> The Arches smooth surface prints very smoothly with these inks.  The
PR> textured version has some artifacts in the shadows that appear to be from
PR> it's texture.

PR> This paper has an odd solvent smell to it -- not very pleasant.  I don't
PR> think I've ever noticed this with another paper.

PR> The dmax for the papers with Eboni, the 1160, and HW Matte paper setting was
PR> 1.53 - 1.54.  In comparison to EEM (1.65 - 1.66) and UltraSmooth (1.58 -
PR> 1.59) the Arches paper looks weak.  The visual difference between Arches and
PR> UltraSmooth is noticeably more that the difference between UltraSmooth and
PR> EEM.

PR> The Arches paper base (coating) readings are as follows (c, m, y, visual):

PR> 0.02, 0.03, 0.05, 0.03.

PR> This is the same as UltraSmooth.

PR> Although the name (Arches) and the nice weight of the paper are plus factors
PR> compared to the Epson UltraSmooth, the smell and weak dmax knock it out of
PR> the competition for me.

PR> Paul
PR> http://www.PaulRoark.com


Just to share my subjective opinion. I do not have the ability to
measure the dmax but in several side by side print outs using my 1160
with MIS FS-N inks and Randall curves I find the blacks in the prints
on the Arches Infinity Smooth to seem deeper and darker to my eye vs.
PR or EEM. I also feel the nuances, such as shadow detail to be better
than EEM and about the same as PR. And sharpness of detail appears to
be more precise especially vs. EEM.

As for feel of the paper the Arches beats out the PR or EEM hands
down.  And much thicker and more robust feel to the paper.

About the smell, yes, there is a bit of solvent smell when paper is
taken fresh right from the box.  However I have some prints that were
done a week or so ago and there is little if any smell that I can
detect anymore.

Best regards,
 Richard  

mailto:richard@...

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