Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "SteveZ" 
<blizzie12@...> wrote:
>
> I have some beautiful winter rural snowcapes I wanted to print, but 
> undecided which paper to use. The snowscapes are somewhat hi-key 
with 
> not a lot of shadow detail or contrast. I'm open to suggestions on 
> which brands, textures, tones, etc. to use that will best simulate 
the 
> softness, subtle feel of snow. I'm using a 3800 with K3 inks.
> 
> Since I'm not an experienced digital printer, I'd appreciate hearing 
> some of your thoughts and suggestions.
> 
> Thanks in advance!


 This list is great for technical information. There are a lot of 
really excellent printers and people who understand the processes and 
inks and printers and curves and profiles and is a great resource for 
all that stuff...but, Something like which paper is going to interpret 
your photos is an artistic decision you should determine on your own.
Buy some sample packs and see which papers you like-you won't really 
gain experience as a digital printer unless you experience digital 
printing. Believe me this is not a put down, just a suggestion. Look 
at paper sample books, make small prints on a variety of stocks, see 
which ones you really like, it will be worth the effort and you will 
learn alot from the process.
I was fortunate when I was young to work for a well known (now dead) 
photographer that was considered by many to be an excellent printer. 
He really emphasised practical experimentation. Many of his most 
beautiful prints were made on a paper that at the time was not 
considered by most experts to be appropriate for the kind of work he 
did. Yet after testing ALL of the emulsions at the time he personally 
found this stock to be closest to his vision. Later in the decade you 
saw more and more artists using this paper, but he discovered it for 
himself. You will benefit if you go through the same exploration. For 
sure.
Jack