Digital BW, The Print

Interesting, Richard.

As you've used both, can you tell me a little bit more about the Aurora Natural vs. the 
Entrada Natural?

http://www.moabpaper.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=117

 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Richard Smallfield 
<r.smallfield@...> wrote:
>
> Quoting Kevin <vinke@...>:
> > In the past I've used the Epson Enhanced Matte for daily printing and
> > the Aurora Art for my 
> > "best" work. However, I find that the Epson paper has a bit more pop and
> > slightly better 
> > dmax and shadow detail.
> 
> I changed from Enhanced Matte to PremierArt Matte BW for portfolio and daily 
> printing. It doesn't yellow as badly as EEM and has better handing of shadows 
> in my opinion. The EEM can look a bit blotchy as it doesn't always hold the 
> ink too well. And it's double-sided.
> 
> But that said I've had a BW neutral QTR (OEM Epson 2100) print above my PC 
> unframed since March and the tones have gone very warm. The paper itself has 
> warmed a bit.
> 
> The brigher papers will always give you more pop if that's what you want.
> 
> But I've actually got fade tests in my window at the moment and after six or 
> more weeks the Aurora Natural and Entrada Natural haven't changed much - 
> actually the Entrada has *lost* some warmth and a friend commented the the sun 
> seemed to be bleaching it.
> 
> For better dMax I use Entrada Natural as my display printing paper for BW - 
> noticeably better blacks than Aurora. But that is not always needed, so I do 
> intend to buy more Aurora for lower contrast photos when I can afford more 
> paper.
> 
> > I was under the impression that the Aurora would last longer (more
> > archival) due to the fact 
> > that it was cotton and has no OBA's.
> 
> In six to eight weeks in my window the EEM has actually reached the colour of 
> the Aurora Natural, approximately. So the Aurora is far more stable, not 
> having changed much at all.
> 
> > fwiw, i display most of my prints in art portfolios/dark storage.
> 
> In dark storage the EEM should last quite well I think. But a previous poster 
> pointed out that merely leaving it on the table for a week causes yellowing 
> and that's my experience, too.
> 
> I would opt for an acid & lignin-free paper at any rate, because it's more 
> archival in the long term. IT Supplies is the place I went for my PremierArt 
> paper and it was about the same price as Enhanced Matte. And double sided and 
> not acidic. 
> 
> But no brightened paper will stay bright forever when light gets on it.
> 
> Good luck,
> Richard
>