Digital BW, The Print

Hello Kevin,

>I already use the RR Aurora Art as my primary paper, so it just 
>makes sense to use it for proofing, too. Also, most proofs turn 
>out nice enough to file in a photo album or give away to family 
>and friends. 
> Those proofs might as well be on the better paper.


These are valid points, but there are some other things you might want
to consider.  The contrast and density curves of EEM are close to what
seems like an average for many matte papers, and it also happens to be
such that it's fairly easy to achieve good WYSIWYG using the standard
options for the image and printer profiles (I don't think this is an
accident, I think the papers are designed that way).  Therefore using
EEM for proofing has some advantages:

- Good WYSIWYG, which means faster and more efficient work

- Any image proofed on EEM will print to a wider range of papers
without requiring major tweaking  (these are some of the reasons why
the simple workflows can be so effective)

- EEM is widely available in office supply stores and online.


It so happens that Aurora Art's contrast and density are different
enough from the average that a considerable adjustment curve is
required for both density and contrast when the image is proofed on
EEM.  You are right that proofing on the same paper as the final
prints is efficient, however you may be "painting yourself into a
corner" so to speak, if you ever want to print on other papers.

When you work up and proof an image, the image is largly adapted to
the proof paper.  If the images are proofed to Aurora, they may be
more difficult to print on other papers.  One of the reasons EEM is so
well liked as proof paper is because it is pretty much dead center in
the mainstream of contrast and density.  This insures that the images
are closer to what might be considered a standard.  Aurora is pretty
far away from that.

As you gain more experience it is likely the urge to try other papers
will rear it's head, and someday you might find one you like better. 
It would be a shame to discover that many images proofed on Aurora
will not print well on other papers.  

All of my images, going back over four years and across as many
printers, were all proofed on EEM using the same mainstream settings.
They can all be printed easily with either of my current printers
with a minimum of tweaking required.  Printers, inks and papers come
and go over time.  But I'm secure about that because all the
images are uniformly proofed.  I was ill at ease when I first got the
2400 last year, a completely different system.  But I was delighted to
find that almost all of my images printed as is, requiring little if
any adjustments.

If you really want to proof and print on the same paper, IMO Dourian
Art would be a better choice.  It is also 2-sided, and is very close,
nearly identical, to EEM in contrast and density.  It also has better
dmax than Aurora.  Dourian is a dead ringer for PhotoRag, arguably the
most popular mainstream paper that has set the standard for years.

Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm