Digital BW, The Print

Doug,

>I prefer the more traditional look of glossy or pearl papers. Most of 
>the talk here seems to be about matte styles. What do those of you 
>actually using the UTEZ/C84 combo for glossy/semigloss prefer? My 
>ideals would be archival enough to sell prints without a disclaimer, 
>little or no bronzing and a price that's not as outrageous as some of 
>the matte papers.

I suspect the only glossy paper line that is "archival" (and I question the
archival quality of any plastic, RC paper) is Epson's "Premium" line
(Wilhelm 200 year+ storage life).  My favorite is the Epson Premium
Semigloss.  However, I think it needs a spray with PremierArt Print Shield
to control bronzing and protect the surface.

I like the looks of a sprayed Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl even better --
great dmax.  However, it is a 30 year paper, probably due to its acidity.  A
spray on the back with Wei T'o will make it "acid free," but I'm not sure
how long it will stay that way.

The only readily available paper I know of that is artifact free and does
not need a spray to protect it is Epson Glossy Photo Paper.  It is thinner
than I'd like and not archival.  It too can be sprayed on the back and will
then test as "acid free" -- for a while.  However, my tests show that within
a few months the lignin in the paper will have already overwhelmed the
buffer if the spray was just a single light one.  I don't know how much Wei
T'o would be needed to keep the paper acid free for a reasonable time.

Epson sells a roll paper -- Glossy Paper Heavyweight -- that has better
paper and is made for long term display and storage.  See
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/ProductMediaSpec.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&i
nfoType=Overview&oid=-8813&category=Paper+%26+Media  (cut and paste the
URL).  It is said to be "non-yellowing" and have a "good" archival keeping
quality (same as the Premium line).  It appears to have the same coating as
the Epson Glossy Photo paper (not one of the micro-porous, troublesome
ones).  So, it is artifact free.  It tests out as having little if any
buffering in the paper back, but a light Wei T'o spray kept it acid free for
as long as I've been looking at it.  So, the lignin content of the paper
must be very low.  Given Epson's rating, no spray is probably needed.
However, if someone like me takes an acid test pen to it, they'll doubt the
archival keeping qualities of the unsprayed paper.  Fighting the curl of a
rolled paper is a hassle.  My 20 x 24" traditional print drier seems to do a
reasonable job.  (Personally, I'd rather just spray a Premium Semigloss.)

With the non-artifact, non-microporous coatings like the Epson Glossy Photo
paper, the dmax is a bit less than the newer coatings, I presume because the
particles are more embedded in the surface (the same reason the artifacts
are gone).  These papers can take a huge ink load.  With the 2200 I up the
ink load to the max (+20%), and this gives the papers as good or better dmax
than the Premium line.  With the C84, however, you can't do that.  I'm not
sure what paper setting will work best, but I'd guess you'll want to use the
"Plain paper" one to stop the under-printing of the black ink with the
"color" inks.  Some experiments may be needed.

Good luck, let us know what you come up with.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com