Digital BW, The Print

Andy,

I'm glad to see someone is still using the "variable-Piezo" mix.

>i really like Epson's 2 papers, Archival Matte and Epson's Watercolor with
>Piezo/Gen mix... my question:

>Are these papers really long-lasting,

Short answer -- no one knows.

I bought one of the acid pens and must agree with your later post -- I don't
think they give us a clue as to the answer.  When newsprint tests as
superior to my archivally-processed, fiber-based silver prints, how much
weight should we give such a test? I think none.

I still think Epson Archival Matte is the paper to beat, overall.  Even if
we can never know how many hundreds of years the paper will last, we can do
some accelerated fade testing to see how the images will hold up to light.
Even price-independent, for those who like smooth surfaces, EAM could be the
best there is in this respect.  Some other papers can match or even barely
beat it in some parameters in my fade testing, but then they will fall down
is some other area.  So, overall, I can't say I've tested another paper that
I think is superior to EAM overall.

I wish it tested as acid free, but it doesn't.  Buffering is cheap. I assume
(and have read somewhere) that Epson found buffering was detrimental to the
overall performance -- image permanence being the primary concern.

> as far as avoiding a shift of the paper towards yellow over time(1-2yrs)?

In my fade testing with bright fluorescent lights, the only paper not to
shift yellow was Museo.  (There, of course, may be others that I have not
tested.  I would not be at all surprised if uncoated paper did very well.)
EAM shifts, on average, about 3 units (of the 256 level, 8-bit scale).  This
seems average.  I have no idea how this relates to display under normal
conditions.

> Is anyone finding any strange reactions with the Piezo inks ...

I've never seen any of the strange claims about Piezo and EAM.  Piezo inks
have always been slightly green -- on most papers I've used.  (I had some
density changes with Piezo, but I think it is the CIS.)

>... some papers buckle a bit in the middle under a mat, even at relatively
>small sizes

I hang 16x20 EAM prints with 2 tapes, matted, and they have stayed perfect.

>... heat mounted Piezo or MIS work ...

I don't have any Piezo heat mounted, but I have a Generations color on Epson
Photo Quality Ink Jet paper that was dry mounted.  I'm told this is bad for
the inks, etc.  However, this one looks perfect and has for close to a year.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com