Digital BW, The Print

on 11/26/01 4:49 PM, fh.gross@... wrote:

> I would be aspiring to a traditional fibre base paper i.e. a smooth
> semi-gloss type of finish rather than a textures water colour
> surface. I have seen a print done on Epson Archival Matte and found
> the paper surface to be a bit "dead" - on the other hand I dislike
> the super gloss that you get on traditional RC glossy prints - any
> comments ?

Many of us come to this as you do. Sadly pigment inks don't do well on
glossyish papers (not even those that resemble a nice air dried fiber based
print, if you could even find such an inkjet paper). You will not be able to
match the luminance range of a glossy fiber print without "coating" your
print, which is a topic and endeavor all its own.

However, over time you might discover like many of us have, that what you do
get is lovely unto itself, and in many ways preferable to silver prints, in
spite of it's shortcomings. I still have many images that just need fiber
prints, but for the vast majority of my images there is no going back. Matte
Inkjets prints do it better. My matte inkjet prints are far more luminous
than my matte silver prints are, they are *between* matte and glossy fiber
prints.

My advice is not to go into this as a way of replacing silver prints, but of
adding to your printmaking arsenal. However, over time your aesthetics may
change, and you might just find that you no longer desire that glossy full
toned look anymore.

Todd