Digital BW, The Print

First, the holy grail for many people is the look of air-dried glossy 
paper, as described by Anselm Adams in _The_Print_ (p. 45):

> Maximum image brilliance is obtained on a smooth, glossy-surfaced 
> paper, which can have a reflectance range of up to 1: 100 and 
> higher...The matte papers have much lower brilliance, with a 
> reflection-density range of about 1:25...I use glossy papers 
> comparable to Kodak's "F"- surface. Unferrotyped, these papers give a 
> smooth semi-gloss finish with long tonal range.

Consider color prints: when I first got my Epson 7600 it came with 
Photo Black ink and I printed color on Epson Semi-Matte but then 
switched to Matte Black and printed on Epson Enhanced Matte and 
Hahnemuehle Photo Rag. However, when I needed to make extra color 
prints for an exhibition, it became very clear that prints with Matte 
Black ink on the latter two papers were nowhere near as "brilliant" as 
using the Photo Black/Semi-Matte combination. Anyone who looked at the 
two sets of prints  preferred the prints made with Photo Black on 
Semi-Matte.; and I had to switch back to Photo Black to complete the 
prints for my exhibition. (However, I do understand that some people 
who are looking for a certain "look" are happy with or prefer Matte 
Black and matte paper.)

For B&W prints, I also found more brilliance from the Photo 
Black/Semi-Matte than from Matte Black and matte paper, bearing out 
Anselm Adams observation above. But the trouble is that prints on 
Semi-Matte have some bronzing, although, paradoxically, I find the 
bronzing less objectionable on large (16x24") than small (A4) prints. 
Some people have suggested that Epson Pro Glossy paper has less 
bronzing, but for me the problem is that the largest roll that this 
paper  is available in is 17", not 24". I have also heard that Oriental 
FB Glossy paper is less subject to bronzing than Semi-Matte but, apart 
from its cost, Paul Roark reports that this paper has substantially 
lower Dmax than EEM, and has a very fragile surface too boot. So for 
B&W, the bronzing problem remains, although it can be solved by 
laminating the print or by face-mounting on plexiglass which I have 
found is the most spectacular way to display  a large print -- and 
that's as close to the holy grail that I can get.

I'm sure that a lot of people will object that they prefer B&W prints 
on matte paper, with their long tonal range in the mid-tones which is 
similar to a platinum print. But that isn't my preference, as I am 
after deep, rich black and brilliance.

--Mitch/Potomac, MD