Digital BW, The Print

Exactly my feelings about this paper.  If you look closely at an  
unprinted sheet you will also see that the coating is a bit uneven  
(perhaps because of the texture) which contributes to the reflection  
problem.  I think a slightly thicker coating would fix the problem.

Carl

On Jan 19, 2006, at 9:51 AM, chipcarterdc wrote:

> Back on topic, below is the email I just sent to Crane's with my  
> initial impressions of Silver
> Rag printed on my Epson 98000 w. Pghhoto Black:
>
> "I have just printed some Silver Rag yesterday on my Epson 9800  
> with Photo Black ink and
> the prints look spectacular.  I obviously need to consider them  
> some more (I'm going to
> look at the prints again today after they're fully dried), but my  
> initial reaction is that this
> paper is fabulous.
>
> My only concerns are that (a) it's a bit too glossy and (b) it's a  
> bit too textured.  Put
> together, the high gloss and texture create obtrusive reflectivity  
> when the print is viewed
> at any angle other than flat on a table or flat against a wall.  In  
> other words, if the paper is
> tilted at all (and I don't mean severely titled -- just any  
> position that's not perfectly flat),
> or if the light is coming at the paper from an oblique angle, the  
> glossiness/reflectivity
> becomes obtrusive and obscures the details.  So, my initial gut  
> reaction is to suggest that
> Crane cut the current "gloss" (currently more like an RC darkroom  
> paper) down to a
> "sheen" (more like a air-dried fiber darkroom print) and minimize  
> the texture a bit.  (I
> don't think the texture should be eliminated, however -- the  
> texture gives this paper a
> unique appearance.  But to truly be closer to an air-dried fiber  
> print, the textured should
> be lessened somewhat).  Keep in mind, though, that the image I was  
> printing for the
> samples was a B&W portrait will large areas of black (i.e., a head- 
> and-shoulders portrait
> against a black background), so I imagine that that may have  
> something to do with the
> obtrusive gloss when viewed in any position other than perfectly flat.
>
> If the "obtrusive reflectivity when hit by oblique light" issue can  
> be minimized, Silver Rag
> will quickly become my primary paper."
>
> (I should add that even if the paper is released as-is, I will  
> still probably use it quite a bit)).