Digital BW, The Print

Well - I've tried the Premium Semimatte, and the results are ...
interesting.  First observation - the surface is much more fragile
than either the PSG or PL papers.  Since it only comes 17x22, I
ordered one pack of that, and cut down a couple of sheets in 4's to
have some 8.5x11's to work with.  Just the act of lining the paper up
on the Rotatrim caused some fine scratching of the surface that
interferes with even ink deposition.

This is a lower contrast and lighter, overall, printing paper than
PSG, using the PSG profile.   With the PL profile seems to produce
about the same lightness, but less contrast than PL.  But the absolute
black (L=0) zones are ... wierd.  I have curves for coated paper that
leave out the black and only use C, LC, M and LM inks, and do a great
job on PSG or PL, without gloss differential in the blacks, and only a
small gloss differntial in the whites.  PSM, on the other hand, has no
gloss differential in the whites, but the pure (L=0, only) blacks are
duller, and have a puddling appearance that is just strange.  Going
into Photoshop and adjusting the levels so that the lowest black level
is L=2 instead of L=0 solved the problem without having to create an
all new curve (and the min L=2 still produces a pretty rich black),
but before doing that, the visual effect was just strange.  Backwards
bronzing - it has a different look than if you use MK on RC paper, and
doesn't rub off, but it nevertheless has a differant "surface character".

Anyway, sorry for the rambling post - just thought there might be one
or two of you interested in the outcome of this discussion.

D


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark"
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
>
> Doug,
> 
> Try some Costco Kirkland Glossy inkjet paper and Epson Premium
Semimatte.
> Both are significantly better with respect to bronzing than the Premium
> Semigloss.  If one looks very critically at them there is still a gloss
> differential between the paper white and areas with significant
density, but
> the obnoxious bronzing is virtually gone.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com 
>