Digital BW, The Print

Shilesh;

As you know I've been testing RC papers also, looking for an 
acceptable compromise between dmax, tone, surface, etc.

> Now if we could rid the RC type papers (I much prefer the 
term "high 
> Dmax") of the damn reflections, we would be closer to the ideal 
> medium.

For me the issue isn't so much the reflections per se, because all 
my work gets shown, sold and hung under glass. What bothers me is 
the quality of the reflections-that hard, machine-like stiple that 
most luster papers have, or that plasticky high gloss of the glossy 
papers. Going through old photo prints again reminded me of just how 
shiny some of those are, but it was never an issue because the 
texture and shine was so much less mechanical, more like skin than 
gelatin or plastic. A warm, attractive surface.

Which got me thinking: That final texture is imparted by the final 
drum the material rolls through when it is being coated, is that not 
right? If anyone knows more about that part of the process, please 
jump in. But if that is true, why can't that same drum texture be 
applied to the inkjet coatings? It seems such an obvious, simple 
easy thing, that there has to be some problem I'm not aware of. Does 
anybody have more info on how the surface texture is created, and 
what the limitations are?

Regards,

Steve Karafyllakis

BTW-I hit a Dmax of 2.79 on a coated glossy paper a couple days 
ago..!!!...