Digital BW, The Print

Hi Paul,

Yea I like those Clear Bags too and so do my clients! 

You've certainly done your homework in regard to papers of all types.
I didn't know that the Premium RC Epson media was ob free. When I lay
down a print done on E.P. Luster beside rag papers such as Innova
Cotton that have some obs, it is far brigher. I just assumed this was
from added brightening chemicals. Something is in there to make them
so brilliant.

I think your comment about post treatment is critical. It would be
nice if we didn't have to go through all that but its an imperfect
world. Even with the new K3 inkset there is still some gloss
difference but not as bad.

As to Wilhelms test data, I still wonder about the long term effects
of climate and temperature on that rc base. I have numerous prints in
my closet that I've dragged all over the country in the last 20 years.
Most of the fiber prints look the same as they always did. But all of
the rc prints, whether color or black and white (that I fixed and
washed myself) seem brittle and dried out to me. Now some of this may
have to do with the chemical processing but I still wonder what this
plastic would look like in 30 years much less 300.

On a side note - you might know something about this - that company
Breathing Color called me and tried to sell me on a new canvas they
have just released with a "whole new" type of brightening process that
does not involve the yellowing ob's now used in other inkjet products.
What are they talking about what is it. I've always wondered why they
couldn't just use some form of Titanium white pigment for brightening
canvas and paper as has been used for centuries in other art media
without apparent problems, .... or did it yellow too...

John



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark"
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> (Pardon my jumping in.)
> 
> Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper and UltraSmooth share the top spots
on the
> Wilhelm dark storage ratings (see 9800 test at
> http://www.wilhelm-research.com/epson/9800.html) at > 300 years. 
Both are
> also OBA free.
> 
> Glossy paper has a huge dmax, and when sprayed or laminated glossy
paper is
> probably the most physically durable medium we have.  Between the
paper and
> coating technologies, I think the surface will be whatever we want.
> Bronzing is going to be history soon (and already is if coated or
> laminated).
> 
> "RC" or "barrier" papers have, in my view, a huge future even at the
high
> end.   
> 
> (But tape-hung matte under glass -- or, better yet, in a
www.clearbags.com
> envelope -- is still the easiest.)
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com