Digital BW, The Print

Diana-

I too appreciate your response to Steve's post--the unclarity in the 
paper business is disturbing.  Your responsiveness and availability 
are much appreciated.

On the Merlin Natural that I've just received a few sample sheets of, 
here are my impressions.  It is a nice sheet, but a bit thin to my 
tastes.  The uncoated side is also quite rough to the touch and lacks 
the refinement of some other high-end papers (though I understand a 
double coated version is available).  It is fairly white for a non-
OBA paper but not to the standards of the Epson USFA.  On two targets 
from the 4800 with K3 inks, the dmax was only 1.542 and 1.550 
(compared to about 1.66 for USFA).  So this last is certainly a 
problem for me. 

I suspect this is one of those papers that would do better with Eboni 
or something like that.  Epson has the printer/driver/paper/ink thing 
on a very short, refined leash.

Thanks,
Walt



  



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Steve Kale 
<stevekale@b...> wrote:
>
> Diana
> 
> That's helpful.  I really do believe that paper manufacturers, 
especially
> those younger, newer firms looking to take business away from the 
big firms,
> will benefit from providing the consumer with greater insight into 
the
> industry.  Frankly, the paper industry is way too "slippery" with 
many
> identical products sold under different brands each purporting to 
be unique.
> I would encourage you to provide as much information as you are 
allowed to
> by your commercial contracts.  If you believe your products to be
> essentially the same as those marketed under another brand then say 
so - you
> can still compete on service (and price).  If they are not then 
tell as why
> and how they aren't.  Certainly don't be afraid of providing too 
much
> information.  This forum (and the Wide Format Forum) are well-
versed in
> matters technical and would appreciate the additional 
knowledge/clarity.
> Even those who aren't able to understand any technical information 
or
> clarification you choose to provide will take confidence in your 
approach,
> your service and your openness.  That can only lead to more sales.
> 
> There are rules placed in forums - and etiquette - which govern the
> behaviour of commercial organisations in the forum.  I would 
expect/hope
> that these would not prevent an active, helpful, commercial entity 
providing
> information on the products we use.  It is of course a fine line 
between
> that and using the forum for marketing but I think a degree of 
common sense
> will mean that the provision of information is not considered 
intrusive
> advertising.  If anyone oversteps the mark then I am sure they will 
be
> promptly reminded.
> 
> I would encourage you, Diana, and others in like positions to seek 
approval
> for greater disclosure in relation to your own products.  I would 
also
> encourage you to provide more general information on the substrate 
and
> coating industry - who the key players are, who's at the leading 
edge in
> terms of coating or infusion technology development etc etc.
> 
> Happy holidays
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> > From: Diana York~Hawk Mtn Papers <diana@h...>
> > Organization: Hawk Mtn Papers
> > Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 18:15:48 -0500
> > To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Digital BW] QC of Hawk Mountain Papers?
> > 
> > Converting:
> > We get mill rolls of paper from the coating facility that are 
various widths
> > and usually 40" outer diameter. We then either convert them into 
short rolls
> > of widths from 13" to 44" or cut them into sheet sizes from 4"x6" 
to 35"x47".
> > We owned a paper converting business in Holyoke MA before we 
started Hawk
> > Mountain Papers
> > Our requirements:
> > We work with representatives from the paper mill to get the best 
mix to work
> > as a base for a coated inkjet paper. We supply the specs we need 
such as fiber
> > length, type, caliper, GSM, brightness, smoothness, opacity, 
cleanliness.
> > Different cotton fiber lengths give different characteristics to 
the base
> > paper. So to answer your question - we supply the recipe to the 
mill. The
> > mills we work with make many different paper products - inkjet 
paper base is a
> > very, very small part of their business.
> > Coatings:
> > Both. We have worked with chemists to develop our own coating 
formulations
> > (from scratch - purchasing all the chemicals individually and 
having the
> > coating mixed for us) and we have purchased premixed coatings to 
which we have
> > added additional ingredients. The coating is then applied to the 
base paper.
> > Who does our production:
> > Paper mills - If I told you, I'd have to kill you <G>. They are 
in the USA.
> > Coating facility - same thing (we rent time on a coating 
machine). Converting
> > and packaging - we do in our facility in Shoemakersville PA.
> > While I couldn't be completely clear in answering all your 
questions, I hope I
> > did help.
> >
>