Digital BW, The Print

"Gary " <gary@...> wrote:
>
> Paul,
> 
> Is the Arches Hot Press Paper used with Eboni-6 giving a 
> warm image tone or
> a cooler tone like the Premier Art Smooth?

Arches Hot Press watercolor paper comes is both "regular" and "bright white" versions.  Both are "natural" papers with no OBA's.  As such, both have a positive Lab B, unlike the brightened papers that are often bluish, with a negative Lab B.  So, compared to the OBA papers, all Arches watercolor paper is going to be warmer.

I have 2 samples of Eboni-6 on Arches, currently hanging side by side at Gallery 1029.  One is on the regular Arches, the other is one the "bright white."   Both are warmer than the other images that are on Premier Art Smooth BW, an OBA paper with a Lab B about equal to -2.

What I find is that our eyes do something like an auto white balance on whatever large white area is in view.  So, if there is no brightened paper around the prints can look quite neutral.

Also, the sense of warmth is significantly influenced by the change in the Lab B from the paper white to the midtones.  Carbon pigments all have some increase in Lab B in the highlights and midtones relative to the paper white.  Why I like Eboni is that it has the least I've found among carbon pigments, and one nice characteristic of Arches watercolor paper is that it has a relatively low Lab B increase with Eboni.

The change in the Lab B ("delta Lab B") for H. Photo Rag is about 5.  For my favorite paper to make neutral-cool carbon prints, Premier Art Smooth BW, the delta Lab B is about 4.  For Arches, it's 2.5.  (This is using a 2200 as a test bed for the 7800 that I'll switch to soon.  The 7500 with it's large drops can print on PA Smooth BW with a delta Lab B of less than 3.   Drop size makes less difference for un-coated papers, and the old 7500 on Arches is just too rough for me if there are smooth clouds in the image.)

So, the bottom line is that the Arches is warm compared to brightened paper, but if displayed in a setting with no bright paper around it, preferably with lights that are not overly yellow, dilute Eboni on Arches BW looks quite neutral.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com