Digital BW, The Print

I've heard a lot of good things about this paper, but it does seem pricey. I
use a paper that I believe is similar, Permajet's fibre based unglazed
gloss, and it performs very well in my R2400 with K3 inks.

Has anyone compared this paper to Crane's, is there much difference? If
there was a noticeable improvement the cost would be acceptable for
exhibitions.

Steve Bell

> 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 - £25/100 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/