Digital BW, The Print

Why is matte paper associated with "fine art?" Not a rhetorical
question. I really don't understand the nature of this association.

(BTW, I use matte papers mostly and like 'em just fine.)

Scott

Peter Johngren wrote:

>
> Clayton -
>
> I found your comments interesting and they gave me a
> "camp" to identify with. I am a recent convert (at
> east in part) to black and white, having spent years
> with Cibachrome etc and recent years with Epson color
> prints on Luster paper. I therefore fall into at
> least the semi-gloss camp - specifically the Premium
> Luster camp and can't relate to matte finishes. But
> then, when I use to paint - eons ago - I used oils and
> couldn't relate to water colors. I still can't.
>
> I don't know if that excludes me from anything "fine
> art." Since I know Ansel Adams' work more via some
> exquisite book reproductions, which were on rather
> glossy paper, I don't think of his work as being on
> matte paper. I think of it as having the jet black
> blacks that I love and the stark vibrancy of what I
> liked about Cibachrome. I can now get way better
> color prints with Photoshop and Epson than I could
> with Cibachrome, and am hoping I can get "Ansel Adams"
> prints using a digital approach. I realize this is
> all rather arrogant, but one can dream.
>
> Peter
>
>
>
> --- Clayton Jones <cj@...> wrote:
>
> I think ultimately it will depend on the papers.
> Follow my logic
> here: I have seen how over the past couple of years as
> more and more
> people have gotten interested in BW digi printing,
> many new names have
> appeared in the forum, and it seems to be no longer
> primarily fine art
> types. Forum members now seem to fall into two broad
> camps, those who
> are fine art oriented and prefer matte papers with MK,
> and those who
> seem happy with the glossy type papers and PK,
> especially because of
> the greater Dmax. I can't tell for sure, but I get
> the impression
> that these glossy users are the same kinds of
> photographers that used
> RC paper for darkroom prints, which is a very large
> market segment and
> probably what Epson is aiming at. Right now the fine
> art matte users
> seem to be holding on to what they've been doing, and
> probably will
> for some time.
>
> However, I think if someone invents a paper, cotton or
> otherwise, that
> truly looks and feels like ADFBG, and is truly
> archival, and truly
> allows a range of tones using truly archival Epson
> inks, then the fine
> art matte/MK folks might switch en masse and 3p ink
> folks could be in
> trouble. Certainly the 3p ink folks must be watching
> developments
> very closely.
>
> But in reality, there probably will always be many
> good paper choices
> and 3p ink folks will always be figuring ways to go
> one step better,
> so I think there will always be a 3p ink and paper
> market of some
> sort. But it seems clear to me that the digi BW
> market is more and
> more becoming mainstream and is taking on the
> two-sided coin aspect
> that existed in the film/silver market - RC vs Fiber
> orientation. And
> I think it is this orientation, the paper, that will
> be a major
> driving force that will affect the ink market. I
> think the ink will
> follow the paper, but how this will all play out is
> anyone's guess...
>
> These ruminations are just impressions I have from
> long term forum
> reading and watching industry trends. I'll be
> interested to hear
> others' thoughts.
>
> I am currently revising my "Great Paper Chase"
> article, testing some
> new papers, and have been on the phone with some paper
> vendors - I
> have some interesting observations that make me think
> the cotton matte
> papers will keep up, but will post them in a separate
> thread.
>
>
> Regards,
> Clayton
>
>
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