Digital BW, The Print

Jim Goshorn wrote:

> Has anyone here tried all three papers on a K3 printer? If so, are  
> you finding the same results as the luminous landscape article?
> 
> Last favorite darkroom papers I used were Ilford Gallerie and Zone IV  
> Brilliant. Still using Epson Premium Luster at this point because I  
> haven't read anything on these new papers that sounds encouraging  
> that any of them will match the look of my old favorites.
> 
> Jim

I've had a negative impression of these papers since seeing them at the 
last PMA. Since all my experience is with digital output (little to non 
in the darkroom) I thought it was my own ignorance of what traditional 
photographers were looking for.

So I ordered a box of all three papers from Jim Doyle to try on a 9800.
With the FibaPrint and the Silver Rag I have a hard time seeing past the 
surface (as the reviewer noted)--the Pearl isn't as bad in this regard, 
but once the ink is on the paper, not really that much better. The Pearl 
doesn't handle black quite as well as the other two either, so it would 
be a tough decision on which one I would choose for my studio.

I dumped the photo black out of the 9800 yesterday so I guess the 
temporary choice continues to be matte papers. Pearl, to my eye, has the 
most promising surface, but once you apply ink, the gloss differential, 
while not bad, is still quite distracting.

So yes, I guess I would agree with the Luminous Landscape article.

Patrick Carr

Carr Imaging
patcarr@...