Digital BW, The Print

thanks Tim, I value your opinions. Even though I don't use it, I agree
that Silver Rag, when used correctly, remains on top of the list, just
visually.
I have some of this Harman coming in to see for myself. The only
surface, so far, that resembles the slightly less than glossy sheen,
and subtle natural texture of air dried fiber, is the Innova semi
matte. I just wish it wasn't so blue. A few less OBAs wouldn't hurt.
But I think the paper deserves more attention than it's been getting.
I don't require a faux silver, but the gloss of a lot of these is a
bit too loud for me, no matter what it "fails" to resemble.
Tyler

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Atherton"
<timatherton@...> wrote:
>
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Tyler Boley" 
> <tyler@> wrote:
> >
> > and did you like what you saw, oh Silver Rag man?
> > Tyler
> > 
> 
> I'm actually not quite sure... I sort of like it. I also haven't run 
> any measurements on it. I ended up with 2 or 3 packages and decided 
> to use it for a project it seemed well suited for.
> 
> A quick visual comparison puts its blacks around the same as most of 
> the current pack - perhpas a bit towards the higher end.
> 
> It is a very nice paper, very sharp and all the other things go 
> pretty well for it (though it certainly isn't metamerism free as some 
> seem to say - just has very slight metamerism - still in the 
> unpleasant directions inkjets have rather than the less noticeable 
> directions of darkroom prints).
> 
> Most of all, I found the surface "almost" too glossy. I compared it 
> to some air dried FB prints (Ilford Galerie FB as well as a few 
> others I couldn't identify now from what must be 12+ years ago 
> now...) and it was just a touch glossier. I also found the surface 
> quite a bit smoother and more regular than those papers (I don't have 
> any current Ilford papers to compare it to) - again "almost" too 
> regular or perfect - all of those old prints I looked at had slightly 
> irregular surfaces and slight imperfections which seem to add up to 
> giving a tiny bit of character. It's also very crisp
> 
> It is a nice paper to me, neutral to cool. I still like the silver 
> rag a lot - it has a bit more character, but is quite warm by 
> comparison - more like the Forte Polywarmtone FB Museum in Neutol WA 
> I always liked in some way. 
> 
> I have a test package of the new Hahnemuehle paper from the factory 
> to pick up when I can get down to the post office to compare it with, 
> which should be interesting.
> 
> It is probably the paper that so far looks most like a traditional 
> darkroom print but although I haven't seen any printer scratches, the 
> surface is certainly on of the more delicate and quite easy to 
> scratch in handling
>