Digital BW, The Print

Today, I tested a few new papers that I acquired at PhotoFest and just wanted to share my opinions. I am not truly technical with paper terms, nor am I an expert on anything. I just like what I see with my eyes. Obviously, all of these papers are rag, acid-free and I am amused, yet pleased by how far we've come with ink jet papers that the darkroom purists can't roll their eyes at us (ok,at me).
     I was originally very excited about Hahnemuhle's new sugar cane paper but I was not so impressed with the result. Don't get me wrong, it is a lovely paper but it didn't quite have depth to it, plus there were scratches on it right out of the printer. 
     Next, I tried Canson's Infinity papers. I am a BFK Rives fan from years ago and was excited to learn there was an ink jet version. It's even thicker than the heavyweight Rives, which is 280gsm. This is 310gsm.  It was beautiful. The color seems to be a natural white, though not too warm at all. Canson has an Edition Etching Rag with the same weight and a close look (the Rives seems to be a little brighter in the whites). Their Velin Museum Rag is slightly cooler than the other 2. As of right now, Shades of Paper is the only company carrying it (online, anyway).

Then the pièce de résistance was and is the Epson Natural White Cold press paper. It is very warm, which may not suit many of you, and very thick - 340gsm, but for my work, it fits perfectly! There is such a depth to it as well, that any image that has a long tonal range would look beautiful here. The thing is, I don't see it anywhere on Epson's website, nor on Atlex or Shades of Paper but I did find it on Calumet's site, only in 13x19 sheets. Does anyone know if it goes by a different name or is it too new?  

Thanks!
AnnMarie
www.annmarietornabene.net