Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "jnhugo" 
<jnhugo@...> wrote:
>
> --- 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
>
I hear ya, Jack, and appreciate your reply. I obviously plan to make 
test prints of my snowscape images with the different fine art papers 
lieing around here. I was just interested in knowing which fine art 
papers the MORE EXPERIENCED fine art photographers have 
used for printing these kind of images since "snow" can be a tricky 
to deal with.

Call it research if you like, but posting this question on here 
seemed like a good starting point in case I have to buy papers 
recommended by others.