Digital BW, The Print

"lessimnz" <jim@...> wrote:
>
> Paul says:
> > 
> > Matte paper is the best solution.
> > 
> > 
> 
> Oh, Paul, your common sense solution breaks my heart! ...
> but the stunning crispness and shadow detail and d-max 
> on these semi-gloss "air-dried-look" papers is just too 
> rich to pass up that easily! 
> ...

The glossy dmax figures are hard to pass up, and I understand the 
visual appeal of glossy photos that are not framed under glass or 
displayed in ideal lighting conditions.  But in the real world of 
reflections and less than ideal display, good matte papers will often 
if not usually appear to have deeper blacks than the glossy ones.  The 
spectro numbers assume perfect and very bright lighting, which I rarely 
find.  Additionally, under glass or acrylic, the finish of the paper is 
usually hidden while the reflections multiply.

I know the hot ticket for the last year or so has been the 
newer "glossy" papers that almost look like silver prints.  But every 
time I explore these new wonder papers, I run into many if not most of 
the same problems:  bronzing, gloss differential, pizza wheels, 
outgassing, need to dry mount (framing is enough of a pain without 
this), and high cost, not to mention doubts about longevity.

I'm looking forward to getting back to being able to use a variety of 
my favorite matte papers as well as the new high dmax Premier Art 
Generations Alise family -- see 
http://www.premierimagingproducts.com/pg_alisefineart.php -- 
with its mid-1.70's dmax.  With my latest direction in inks, the paper 
tone is the tone of the print, and we have some very nice papers out 
there.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com