Digital BW, The Print

I thought the list might be interested in some tests I did on 5 Japanese 
papers designed for inkjet printing.  The tests were done on an 1160 with MIS 
VM inks, using Paul's curves with no adjustments.  To get a rough idea of how 
these papers print without buying them, take a piece of ordinary laser 
printing paper and print an image on it.  It is somewhat grainy with not a 
great dmax.  The laser paper is a lot better than 4 of the Japanese papers.  
I wasn't interested in pursuing any of these papers further, but here is what 
I found for those who are interested (in descending order):

1. Imbe Thick White.  I would call it continuous tone.  About the same dmax 
as laser paper.  This was the only paper I thought had possibilities, but the 
paper doesn't feel special and looks like laser paper.  I didn't think it was 
worth investigating further for my photographic printing purposes.  White 
tone paper. Lightweight, like laser paper.

2. Laser paper.  This was much better than the following four.

3.Kozo Shi.  Lots of grain/dots.  Muddy looking.  Silky looking surface where 
printed.  Cream tone paper.  Heavier than laser paper.

4. Shiramine.  More grain/dots than #3.  Muddy looking.  Somewhat silky 
looking surface where printed.  Cream tone paper.  Heavier than laser paper.  
Very similar to #3, but prints worse.

5. Harukaze.  Very poor.  Ink blotches and spots all over paper.  Creased 
going through printer.  Very muddy.  White tone paper.  Like tissue paper.

6.Kozo Shi (lightweight).  The worst.  Big ink blotches.  Lots of creasing 
through printer.  Very muddy.  Cream tone paper.  Like lightweight tissue 
paper.

I think a special need would lead one to pursue any of these 5 papers 
further.  If anyone knows of a sheer, lightweight paper that prints cleanly 
and crisply, please let me know.

Helene      


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]