Digital BW, The Print

I was fortunate enough to get some currently Rare Hahnemule Velvet 268gsm 
sample sheets from Jim Doyle at Shadesofpaper.com. He knew I was interested in 
this surface and print black and white only! One of the great things about 
shadesofpaper is that they only sell premium paper from  Hahnemuhle and Lyson, no 
Printers, no Epson paper,no inks. Just the good paper. So it appears to me that 
they pay attention to people picky about the papers they use. The samples 
where sent to me unsolicited.
So, first of all its surface is certainly in the Velvet category, very close 
to Sumerset Velvet perhaps just a bit smoother. The weight even though heavier 
seems about the same as Sumerset V.
I'm printing With Piezotone BW inks and Studio print RIP on a 9000. 
Contrast and density are what seem to be, equal to PhotoRag and William 
Turner papers. My Greytag EyeOne reports a Dmax of 1.74 using Portfolio Black from 
J. Cone Piezotone line of inks. For comparison I measured a Black patch using 
ultrachrome inks on Photorag,Matte Black ink measured 1.54. 
I don't intend to write a lengthy review, I just want to let those who like 
the Velvet paper surface Know that they  should be pleased with the New Hanna 
offering. It should Destroy the Epson Velvet rebranded version of Sumerset 
Enhanced as I Get a nice boost in Dmax with the Hanna paper Versus the Epson 
Velvet. Course this won't happen if your using ultrachrome inks. 
Somebody with a color Ultrachrome setup should load The Piezotone Portfolio 
black in there and see what they get.
Finally a VELVET paper with blacks equal to the Other fine Hanhnemuhle 
papers.
Hopefully we won't have to wait long, and I'm sure it will be a great color 
performer too.
Oh! The color of the paper is right in the William Turner range, maybe a tick 
brighter.
I only print my own work, so not a huge paper buyer, But Jim Doyle has gone 
overboard for me a couple times now. I kinda like the idea that this dealer 
isn't busy trying to make quota's on Epson 9600 and 4000's all day long.
Steve Meyers


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