Digital BW, The Print

On 6/3/03 12:00 PM, "johngeyles" <jge@...> wrote:

> 
>>> With Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl and Antonis's IJC profile
> (number 
>>> ISP_10)
>>> I'm getting 2.25 uncoated and 2.26 with two light coats of
> Kamvar...if 
>>> I go
>>> a little heavier I go up to 2.51.  There is very, very little
> bronzing 
>>> after
>>> the Kamvar...and the surface is completely even through the
>>> hilights...I'd
>>> say this is a winner...pending the release of the Oriental paper
> 
> As usual, I'm a little confused - about all this coating stuff.
> Do I have it right, in the following ?
> 
> The resin-coated (RC) papers like Epson Semi-Gloss, ISP, etc, have
> the best DMax, but show bronzing.  So coating with something like
> this Kamar Varnish almost eliminates the bronzing.

Correctt

> I've also heard
> of using Lyson PrintGuard; how does it compare to the Kamar ?

Doesn't work on RC...best for protecting the surface, but not enhancing the
dmax of matte papers.

> Soon however, Oriental will come out with a fiber-based paper that
> eliminates the need for the varnish.

Perhaps not...too early to say.  I'm still using the varnish on the Oriental
samples that I have.  It bumps the dmax up even higher (from 2.0 to 2.3),
protects the surface and also evens out the gloss over areas of the paper
where there isn't much ink.  Personally, I think will always be necessary to
seal these prints...both RC and Matte to protect the surface and even the
gloss (in the case of gloss or luster finishes)
> 
> But Paul Roark's method of coating matte papers like Epson Enhanced
> Matte using PUR and a wire-wound rod is a totally different approach ?

Yes

> The idea is to raise the Dmax and protect the more delicate ink layer
> of a matte paper.  But Kamar and PrintGuard aren't really best for
> this approach.
> 
> Do I have this kinda right ?

You got it.  There are several ways to go.  The printing to RC and spraying
with Kamar is the fastest and cheapest result while at this point coating a
matte paper like Eclipse with a PUR gives the best result (best surface and
most likely best longevity)...but that may change when the Oriental paper
becomes available.  For now I'm printing to Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl
using OEM.PK inks in an Epson 2200 driven with Ink Jet Control and then
spraying with Kamar for proof/display prints.  My exhibition quality prints
use the Piezotone inks with an Epson 7000 driven by Ink Jet Control printed
to Eclipse 300 Softwhite, then coated with Hydrocote using a #30 Mayer Rod.

Robert