Digital BW, The Print

brouwerkent wrote:
> 
> 
> Mike and Dana
> 
> I very much concur on how nice the Ilford Gold is...and it greatly 
> appeals to my sense of value.
> 
> Regarding the issue of gloss differential, I have thought about this at 
> some length and have decided this is just a part of this medium. Have you
 > ever spent any time looking at Daguerrotypes? Spectacular images....
 > but viewed from an angle, you see a negative image.
> 
> The Gloss differential on the Ilford is kind of similar. Lit well (ie 
> Gallery type lighting), the prints look awesome. Turn the print at an
 > angle and yes...you see that  the whites are more or less paper white.
 > While this seems a wee bit odd, I have decided it is nothing to fret
 > about.  Strikes me the sharpness and dimensional quality is so  superb,
 > I can accept this differential...and view it as just a part of the 
medium.

Interesting perspective - I, too, find the GD of Ilford Gold Fiber Silk
not to be a problem under good viewing light/conditions, but it's easy
to see if it you're handling the print.  It's really not a problem for
a print on display, but it jumps right out at you if you're looking for
it.

Personally, I've been working for years to get past the "peer closely
and try to figure out what film/developer/paper/etc." syndrome and
instead look at the images, the art.  It's tough to get past the
geek urge sometime, though :-)

> My only direct comparison was with Innova Ftype...the Ilford in my
 > opinion blows the Ftype out of contention....lots of surface flaws in
 > the Innova...the Ilford Gold has much better quality control IMHO.
 > Frankly the Innova looks dead and lifeless  next to a print on the
> Ilford Gold.

Clearly the Ilford paper has a much better surface.  The Harman
paper is comparable excellent; Innova definitely has some blemishes
in my experience.

Dana