Digital BW, The Print

Hi all,

From my own small experience in printing since the first Stylus photo came on the market, I notice that the real issue seems to be more the papers than the inks.
My test is simple, I leave the prints on my table among magasines and rubbish for few months....I call that normal indoor use. Majority of the glossy papers and some matte are getting yellowish toward the edges while no name cheap ink didn't fade much if not at all. (Do you know InkClub carts ? Of course not, nobody does, but it doesn't fade, shift nor clog the noozles)
When I say glossy papers I speak of Ilford Galerie Smooth, Konica QP, Kodak, Permajet.... and Epson Archival , Lexjet premium for matte mainly.
In fact it seems that all the very bright white coatings are faster to get yellow which sounds obvious.
The only glossy which has not changed at all is HP premium glossy, it has a very thin polyester base I guess, it doesn't "hold" in hand but has a very white and metallic effect like Cibachrome was, I just cannot find it any more, might be discontinued. At the time that was printed with an Epson 600 with original inks and the prints are without metamerism at all and no color shift since.
Hahnemuhle Photo rag is the matte white support which seems to hold time, once again under my concept of "normal use", but that's the only one who counts. 
I refuse to have to spray my prints for better results, better this and that, no, either it stands for itself or I don't use it.
Inks and papers are already outrageously expensive, they should give what you pay for at no extra cost. 

This was my tow cents to this nice forum, from my experience I will be very particular on papers matter and less on ink. I amp surprised this concern is not that emphasised in here.

Cheers
Michel



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