Digital BW, The Print

I've been testing early versions of the UT8 inkset on a 2200 (don't have a
4000 yet) and have had an opportunity to test it on a number of different
papers that I like or thought were important.  There are no major surprises,
but the one paper that has stood out as a bargain cotton paper is PremierArt
Fine Art Hot Press 205.

 

I had heard that Premier Imaging was the source of at least the beta
versions of Epson's UltraSmooth, which was the first non-flaking cotton
paper I had ever used.  I still have a roll of UltraSmooth on my 7500 that I
use for archival display prints.  While its dmax is modest (but acceptable
at about 1.62 when totally dry), it does very well in fade tests, has no
optical brighteners (yet is bright), and does not flake.   

 

Since I had thought Epson's PremierArt Scrapbook paper (which Epson claims
is its most archival) was similar to UltraSmooth, I tried some of it as a
cheaper, thinner, and not rolled (curled) alternative to UltraSmooth.
However, it turns out Scrapbook paper prints rather differently than
UltraSmooth.  As such, it was not useful as a cheaper paper to do test
prints and profiles/curves on for final printing on UltraSmooth.  Moreover,
it is not available in display print sizes.  As such, it is not that useful
to me.

 

PremierArt Fine Art Hot Press 205 ("PA 205") was said to be just the Premier
Imaging version of scrapbook paper.  However, my tests indicate this may not
be the case.

 

PA 205 appears to be the thinner and cheaper version of UltraSmooth that I
have been hoping would be available.  PA 325 seems to use the same coating.
These papers print very similarly to my UltraSmooth 250 roll. 

 

This is great - a cheap, non-flaking, non-optically brightened, cotton paper
that has all the usual sizes available as well as thicker versions.  It's
true that it can't match the PhotoRag dmax, but 1.62 is OK with me in light
of all the other attributes this paper has.  When my UltraSmooth roll is
gone, PA 205 is going to be my cotton paper of choice (until an even better
value comes along).  I'll fade test the new UT-8 on it to be sure it holds
up in that respect.

 

I might add that Moab Entrada Natural paper is very similar, and Moab tells
me they have solved the flaking problem.  My latest samples still do have
the problem, but they pre-date Moab's new solution.  If Entrada didn't flake
it would also be on my list of great value cotton papers.

 

Paul

www.PaulRoark.com <http://www.paulroark.com/>  

 



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