Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "djon43" 
<djon43@...> wrote:
>
> Why does anyone like "E" surface..which was specifically sold to 
labs
> in the beginning as something to please your grandmother and allow
> labs to use cheaper less-well-trained technicians...it didn't show
> fingerprints. I remember that intro very clearly, when KODAK rolled 
it
> out, followed closely by Ilford's disgusting (!)"Pearl" surface. 
> 
> Folks learned to love it, much like Paris Hilton, just as they got
> used to film damage by minilabs...now they actively like that 
surface,
> and even like RC paper...Red River's quite open about why they're
> selling E.
> 
> On the other hand, their N surface RC is CHEAP, which is a big 
value.
> Can't imagine it rivals alpha-cellulose matte for beauty, but again,
> some folks do like RC for their own reasons. ECCCH!
> 
> John
> 
A bit stridently put, but I can understand that point of view 
perfectly well. Notice I said 'semi-matte', as in no stipple texture, 
which is my preference.  It makes a great deal of difference what 
your final presentation will be, as I'm sure you realize. I've found 
that under glass, surface texture is minimized, but a color mismatch 
with your matboard is still perfectly obvious, so I'm willing to try 
an E surface paper to get a better match. 

My favorite of the PK papers so far is Innova's Ultrasmooth Gloss 
which is billed as 'bright white' as well as very glossy. I consider 
it neither: it is warmer than most RC papers, and has a very pleasing 
soft gloss and texture that is to my eye as close to air-dried fiber 
glossy as I will ever need to come. But at 1.80 a sheet I will 
reserve it for my higher priced prints. I also have an ongoing need 
for cheap prints that will hold up well, though not necessarily to 
full archival standards. I'm still searching....

Steven Karafyllakis

P.S. SOME people may have gotten used to Paris Hilton and her 
shenanigans, but don't count me among them!!!