Digital BW, The Print

Clayton,

All of these new papers are really very good. The reason I like SR is 
that paper white is easier to find a suitable overmat for framing. 
The Hahnemule paper is much too cool for my taste, yet it also 
produces stunning prints. Same goes for Innova F Gloss (not as cool).

Much has been made of these papers, and my own impression is that 
they have a certain tactile, perhaps snob value too (expensive, SR is 
all cotton, etc). Once behind glass, and under good lighting, most 
any old RC papers will be just as good. I just completed a series of 
prints for Tom O'Connell's exchange on Office Depot Professional 
Platinium Series Brilliant Matte (RC paper), and the prints are just 
as compelling as on SR or Innova F. Not as impressive to hold though.

The matte papers, William Turner being my favorite, are so much 
easier to live with under mixed, uncontrolled lighting. But put an RC 
paper under gallery-type spots, and they blow away the matte papers. 
I mean really blow them away - how can you compare Dmax of 2.5+ to 
1.6 on the same wall. As has been said often, it must be like 
comparing silver prints to Pt/Pd; different looks, but can be made 
equally compelling in the right printers hands.

I am finishing printing some 12x15 and 9x18 prints to send to Roy 
Harrington. All were printed on SR, all with a pronounced brown-
magenta tone (kinda like LensWork, but not exactly) created with QTR. 
I am applying Krystal TopKote on a second pass to do away with gloss 
differential. Dmax is 2.5+. I like them, damn the reflections.

Best.

Shilesh

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Clayton Jones" 
<cj@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Shilesh,
> 
> What's your take on SR paper?  Are you using it regularly?  I have
> mixed feelings about it, but am interested in any comments you might
> have.  I still love the non-glare look of the matte papers, but I 
was
> just looking at some recently printed portfolio prints and 
discovered
> a non-spottable flake.  Another one down the tubes.  I'm getting 
ready
> to reprint it now.  I couldn't possibly count the amount of $ and 
time
> lost to flakes over the years.  
> 
> Regards,
> Clayton
> 
> 
> Info on black and white digital printing at    
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
>