Digital BW, The Print

Hi Steve

I'd like to use this paper more but the prices in the UK are so 
expensive - the price for sheets from Online paper is nearly twice that 
of Photo Rag which isn't exactly cheap itself.

thanks for any pointers
Howard

Steve Gledhill wrote:
> Can only speak for myself - obviously.
> 
> It's a superb paper and I use it extensively.  Particularly for large 
> prints on my 4800 - with K3 inks, and ABW and QTR-Create-ICC.
> Why?  Deep blacks.  Warmish creamyish paper colour which I particularly 
> like for my work.  The surface is very robust and resistant to damage.  
> It is slightly stippled which some may not like - for me it's no problem 
> - I like it.  Gloss differential and bronzing are present but so minimal 
> as to be no issue at all.  I use rolls and sheets.  Some find the rolls 
> curl too much - they do curl but it's easy to uncurl buy wrapping the 
> print around a length of drain pipe for a minute or two.
> 
> Unlike some B&W printers - I don't experiment much once I have found a 
> paper I like.  Once in a while I'll try something new to see how far the 
> manufacturers have moved on - but for me I expend almost all of my 
> available photo-energy and time on the creation of my images.  Capturing 
> them on 5x4 film, processing them carefully, scanning them and then 
> working on them in Photoshop.  Maybe I'm just lucky but my printing 
> setup just works like a dream - reliably and consistently.  (By the way, 
> this is thanks to much that I've learned through this and the QTR 
> forum).  And Silver Rag is part of it.  It works for me.
> 
> I do use other papers - but not many.  Ilford Smooth Pearl is great if 
> you don't need maximum permanence (and it's cheap - at least it is here 
> in the UK - \ufffd25/100 A4 sheet box) - for example, every year I print a 
> batch of my own calendars using it.  It's ideal for that as permanence 
> is not a key factor for a calendar!
> 
> You may have guessed from what I say that I'm using PK all of the time.  
> I've used and do like MK work on some matte papers, but for now I'm 
> enjoying the richness and depth that PK ink gives on Silver Rag .
> 
> Ultimately, what works for me and what I like may well be different to 
> what works for you or what you like.  But, hey - what choice we now have!
> 
> Steve Gledhill
> http://www.virtuallygrey.co.uk/