Digital BW, The Print

Tyler-

My Dmax results are similar to yours. I did a quick print of a color image with a grayscale using the Epson driver and the watercolor radiant white media setting (as suggested in the paper's data sheet). Dmax was arount 1.57. I also did a linearization in Studio Print 12 and measured the densest black patch as 1.62. Printer was an Epson 4000 with Eboni as the matte black. I'm going to try again using Epson matte black, but I doubt I'll get a higher reading.

Despite the weak black, the image does look interesting on the baryta coating. I'm going to try printing some other images to see how they look.

-John

----- Original Message ----
From: Tyler Boley <tyler@...>
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2007 6:51:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] re Dmax - New Harman Technologies (Ilford B&W)  Matt FB mp









  


    
            --- In DigitalBlackandWhit eThePrint@ yahoogroups. com, "dmdctusa"

<dmdornctusa@ ...> wrote:

>

> John wrote:

> 

> David-

> > I would be curious to know what the Dmax of this paper is.

> > -John

> ------------ --------- --------- --------

> John,

> 

> I have know way of measuring the Dmax, but my eye tells me it is 

> going higher than other matt papers and particlulary, Epson Enhanced 

> matt....



I don't have or use EEM so can't address that directly. Compared to

HPR and other fine art matte papers here it falls short.

Quick tests with a 9800 ABW UCK3, and 9600 Piezotones, it's just

lower, 1.55 for the ABW and 1.6+ with a Cone setup not yet refined for

this paper. Visually the blacks don't fail to satisfy, they appear rich.

The paper is thinner than most art papers, and as Mark mentioned bears

resemblance to EEM in many ways. The surface is different though and

unique, very smooth, no detectable paper texture, but matte. Sort of

card like.

Even though there is implication of a connection with classic silver

papers because of the use of baryta, it bears no resemblance to any

silver paper I ever used or have seen, more evidence of the futility

of attempting to force one process to look like another.



All that said, the paper has a definite appeal. The coating seems to

hold a very very sharp dot, and the way the ink sits in all this

complicated mess of coating, baryta, and whatever else may be

involved, seems to present the image in a very photographic way that

eliminates the issue of surface almost entirely. It's a very smooth

look with no "fine art" paper look to it at all, primarily "image

only". It floats with a subtle dimensional quality with the large

format image I tried.



The paper doesn't exceed or even meet the specs of the best papers we

are used to, but I think there are many that would like it a lot for

photography. It's worth a try if the above sounds appealing to you.



It's always frustrating to receive evaluation samples from many of

these companies. On the one hand they want a fair evaluation, and on

the other it seems coughing up enough spare sheets to do so will break

the bank.

Media setting tests, with subsequent profiling, for color and ABW with

the Epson driver, much more if with a RIP, then the amount of work

needed to linearize and optimize output for a mono set takes a fair

amount of paper. Also, it's the only way to really see it's potential.



I might take this a little farther with the few small sheets I have

left, but that's it for now for B&W. Don't get confused with the

claimed connection to silver paper, or the presence of baryta. It's a

matte ink paper, with a somewhat unique appealing look appropriate for

photography.



Tyler





    
  

    
    




<!--