Digital BW, The Print

Clayton-

Yes I find the HPR/K3 tonal scale a bit homely with the K3--very flat 
in the mid range, so this goes beyond a color problem for me.  A lab 
here in S.F. is doing a lot of printing with a 9800 and the manager 
told me that people want HPR all the time--until they see the print.  
Then they want USFA.

On the VFA texture, there is something very odd about it:  if you 
compare the unprinted area (of the printable side) with areas that 
have ink on them, the area under the ink appears much smoother.  So, 
I think that a lot of the texture is in the coating (not the paper) 
and that the ink levels the coating--or perhaps just fills it in.  
Thus the apparent lack of detail loss.  Look under a loupe and let me 
know if you notice the same thing.  I first noticed this when an 
astute photographer friend asked how I got paper texture "only in the 
margin of the print."

The OBAs in the VFA still bother me and I guess I'm going to have to 
do some tests.  If over time they simply return the paper to its 
natural color, that would be fine.  If the OBAs actually yellow, that 
would not.

Best,
Walt 


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Clayton Jones" 
<cj@c...> wrote:
>
> Hello Walt,
> 
> >...the dmax of the VFA is the best (of the matte papers with K3) 
> >...the HPR that so many people love I have found only good by 
> >comparison, 
> 
> Same here.  With eboni BO (and other Eboni based inks sets) HPR is
> gorgeous.  But with K3 not only is its dmax a tad lower, but I find 
it
> difficult to get a satisfying color tone.  Do you find that?
> 
> 
> >the texture of the VFA does not obscure detail. 
> 
> Also agreed.  I was doubtful of it at first, but soon realized it
> doesn't affect the print the way some other textured papers do.  The
> "crevices" between the bumps don't go very deep.  Nice stuff.
> 
> 
> Regards,
> Clayton
> 
> 
> Info on black and white digital printing at    
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
>