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RC Papers, Print Spray and Bronzing: what am I looking for?

2003-12-13 by Steve Kale

This may be a dumb question but I will ask it anyway.  Having read all the discussion 
about RC papers and the potential of Epson Premium Semi-Gloss I decided to do a 
test of my own.  Using Epson UC inks, I printed an image using QTR on EEM using 
Carl's EEM curves 50:50 warm/cool.  I then printed it twice on Prem Semi-Gloss using 
Carl's curves for Oriental FB, again 50:50 - admittedly this is not perfect but I do not 
have curves for Premium Semi-Gloss.   One of the Semi-Gloss prints I sprayed with 
Lyson Print Guard - 3 generous coats with drying time between each.  

What is bronzing, ie what differences should I see?  Here is what I see... The Premium 
Semi-Gloss prints are decidedly _warmer_, if that is the right term, than the EEM print 
which I would consider neutral, ie they exhibit a slight brownish tone (looked at from 
directly above).  I assume this is simply because I have not used a consistent paper/
curve combination although I am surprised that the difference (OFB vs PSG) is as 
significant as it is.  I thought that _bronzing_ is the effect that occurs when the prints 
catch light (ie viewed at an angle) and the image tends to look metallic and begins to 
disappear.  I quite frankly can't see the difference between the sprayed and the 
unsprayed Semi-Gloss prints in this regard.  What should I be looking for?

Finally, I admit the RC images initially pack an optical punch but there is something 
almost more 3 dimensional about the matt one.  Obviously a question of taste but I 
wonder if the so-called _search for the Holy Grail_ is perhaps a little biased by 
historical restrictions.  As you can tell, I have no history in the darkroom and so I am 
much less interested in replicating a historical precedent.

Steve

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