Digital BW, The Print

Peter,

>Looking for some opinions on Hahnemuhle and/or Eclipse Soft White
>Satin vs. EEM (or EAM).  I'm currently printing on my old supply of
>EAM using the old VM inkset and am totally happy with what i am
>getting (fabulous).  I've started selling a fair number of prints
>thru a local gallery and would like to be able to say with more
>confidence that my prints are "archival" or at least good for
>approximately 75 years (?).  Right now i'm telling the gallery owner
>my work is good for 30 years.  I don't want to loose the quality i
>get with EAM.  I have not yet switched to the ulta-tone inks, but
>will be loading my 7500 with these when it arrives (it's on a barge
>to Skagway, Alaska!).  Since i'm selling these prints, cost is not a
>factor.  I'm not interested in spraying or coating my work in any
>fashion, just straight prints.

I think you're planned switch to the Ultra Tone inkset is a good move for
longevity.  While the old vm inks might have lasted a fair while, the
warming will, I'm afraid, give customers the impression of low quality.

Along the same lines, I think I'm going to stick to a non-optical brightened
paper for sales.  I fear if purchasers see yellowing of the paper it will
convey an impression of low quality even if the yellowing stops after a
while.  This would argue in favor of the Eclipse Soft white.  Once the Epson
UltraSmooth is out, that would be the way to go to avoid the flaking
problems of Eclipse.

Neither Eclipse nor UltraSmooth quite have the dmax of EAM with the new
Eboni ink, but they are close enough that people won't see the difference.

>So i'm currently thinking of buying up some of the eclipse before it
>disappears.  Prices are darn good compared to Hahnemuhle.

Exactly.  If I didn't have a pre-release roll of UltraSmooth that is exactly
what I'd do.

> Anybody done any printing with both Hahnemuhle and Eclipse?
>Any significant differences?  One better that the other?

Eclipse prints cool.  For example, with the UT inkset, the medium warm curve
gives a neutral print.  PhotoRag has an excellent dmax with the old vm
black.

Hope your 7500 arrives OK.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com