Yahoo Groups archive

Digital BW, The Print

Index last updated: 2026-04-28 22:56 UTC

Thread

Optical Brighteners in Inkjet Papers

Optical Brighteners in Inkjet Papers

2002-04-09 by Robert Morrison

After the latest debate about whether Photo Rag has OB's or not...I
purchased a black light (with a SB-4W bulb).

I turned out the lights in my studio and turned on the UV bulb.  The
following comments are based on examining both sides of the paper.  For
coated one side papers this tells you whether the OB's are in the paper or
in the coating.  If the coating side glows and the back side is dark then
the OB's are in the coating.  If both sides are the same then the OB's are
in the paper.

EAM--Strong glow in the coating
Photo Rag--Strong glow in the paper
Orwell (German Etching)--Strong glow in the paper
Wells River (William Turner)--No glow in either paper or coating
Museo--No glow in either paper or coating
Eclipse Satine Soft White--No glow in either paper or coating

Its important to note that the glow coming off of the Photo Rag and German
etching is nearly as strong as the glow coming off the EAM.  From my own
fade testing, EAM and Orwell both yellow very quickly when exposed to full
sun in a window...this is most likely due to the OB's burning off.

If you saw what I did tonight...your mind would be made up.  EAM, Photo Rag
and German Etching have OB's in them...William Turner, Museo and Eclipse
Satine Soft White do not.

EAM was from Altex, Photo Rag, Museo and Eclipse were from photoinkjet.com,
Orwell and Wells River were from inkjetmall.com.

As some of you know I have a very large collection of paper.  If there is
another paper that you are curious about, email me...if I have it I'll test
it for you.

Robert  

----------------------
Robert Morrison
rmorrison@...

310-397-2704

4131 Bledsoe Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066

Re: Optical Brighteners in Inkjet Papers

2002-04-09 by antonisphoto

Good work Robert. It was about time somebody did this test!!



Antonis

<now I'll go get depressed since Orwell and PRag are my two favorites.... >




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., Robert Morrison <rmorrison@p...> 
wrote:
> After the latest debate about whether Photo Rag has OB's or not...I
> purchased a black light (with a SB-4W bulb).

Re: Optical Brighteners in Inkjet Papers

2002-04-09 by tzinzunzan2000

I agree. It would be great to have a comprehensive list of papers 
that use OB's. What I don't understand is 1) why OB's are used if 
they cause an otherwise good (but perhaps less white) paper to 
noticeably yellow over time (of course, the exception might be those 
cheaper papers that are used for proofing) and 2) if OB's are a 
problem, then why do many printers knowingly use papers that contain 
OB's. I've heard, for example, that some people on this list use EAM 
for prints that they sell. Is yellowing a problem with EAM or is it 
in truth not noticeable enough to warrant a change of paper. 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "antonisphoto" 
<antonisphoto@y...> wrote:
> Good work Robert. It was about time somebody did this test!!
> 
> 
> 
> Antonis
> 
> <now I'll go get depressed since Orwell and PRag are my two 
favorites.... >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., Robert Morrison 
<rmorrison@p...> 
> wrote:
> > After the latest debate about whether Photo Rag has OB's or 
not...I
> > purchased a black light (with a SB-4W bulb).

Re: Optical Brighteners in Inkjet Papers

2002-04-18 by Robert Morrison

Here's an update on optical brighteners in fine art papers for those that
care.  Several list members have sent me paper samples which I have tested
as described below.

Dot Work's Jet Maxx--strong glow in coating (Jeff Randall--source)

Dot Work's Nature Jet Fine Art Coated--medium glow in coating (Jeff
Randall--source)

Epson Textured Fine Art--No glow in either paper or coating (Mike
Kravit--source)

Epson Smooth Fine Art----No glow in either paper or coating (Mike
Kravit--source)

Hahnemuhle William Turner 310gm--strong glow in paper--less no glow in
coating (Mike Kravit--source)

The Nature jet does have OB's in the coating...but there are definitely less
than a paper like EAM.  I hadn't seen this paper before.  It has a nice
medium weight a nice hand.  It is also cheap in comparison to the other fine
art papers ($32.50 for 50 letter sized sheets).  I'll print some later and
report.

The Jet Maxx looks like EAM and is half the price...might be a good option
for a proofing paper...will also print on that later and report.
 
In light of the William Turner result I went back and tested the "Wells
River" sample that I had from inkjetmall.com  This was presumably Hahnemuhle
William Turner with a different surface.  It might be the same coating...but
it is not the same paper...the wells river has no brighteners in the paper,
whereas the William Turner 300gm definitely does have brighteners in the rag
content of the paper.  I'd say this makes this paper the best of the
Hahnemuhle papers...but unlike Cone's old Wells River, it does not get the
"Morrison OB Free" seal of approval (ha ha).

So, my updated list of OB free fine art papers is as follows:

Eclipse Satine Soft White (300)
Epson Textured Fine Art (225)
Epson Smooth Fine Art (225)
Museo (250 and 365)
Wells River (190)

Robert





William On 4/8/02 7:07 PM, "Robert Morrison" <rmorrison@...> wrote:

> After the latest debate about whether Photo Rag has OB's or not...I purchased
> a black light (with a SB-4W bulb).
> 
> I turned out the lights in my studio and turned on the UV bulb.  The following
> comments are based on examining both sides of the paper.  For coated one side
> papers this tells you whether the OB's are in the paper or in the coating.  If
> the coating side glows and the back side is dark then the OB's are in the
> coating.  If both sides are the same then the OB's are in the paper.
> 
> EAM--Strong glow in the coating
> Photo Rag--Strong glow in the paper
> Orwell (German Etching)--Strong glow in the paper
> Wells River (William Turner)--No glow in either paper or coating
> Museo--No glow in either paper or coating
> Eclipse Satine Soft White--No glow in either paper or coating
> 
> Its important to note that the glow coming off of the Photo Rag and German
> etching is nearly as strong as the glow coming off the EAM.  From my own fade
> testing, EAM and Orwell both yellow very quickly when exposed to full sun in a
> window...this is most likely due to the OB's burning off.
> 
> If you saw what I did tonight...your mind would be made up.  EAM, Photo Rag
> and German Etching have OB's in them...William Turner, Museo and Eclipse
> Satine Soft White do not.
> 
> EAM was from Altex, Photo Rag, Museo and Eclipse were from photoinkjet.com,
> Orwell and Wells River were from inkjetmall.com.
> 
> As some of you know I have a very large collection of paper.  If there is
> another paper that you are curious about, email me...if I have it I'll test it
> for you.
> 
> Robert  
> 
> ----------------------
> Robert Morrison
> rmorrison@...
> 
> 310-397-2704
> 
> 4131 Bledsoe Ave.
> Los Angeles, CA 90066

----------------------
Robert Morrison
rmorrison@...

310-397-2704

4131 Bledsoe Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066

Re: [Digital BW] Re: Optical Brighteners in Inkjet Papers

2002-04-19 by Robert Morrison

Just took a second look at these papers in the dark with the UV light.
William Turner has nearly the same amount of OB's as Photo Rag...these
papers really glow...in the order of EAM.  I think there is a slight dulling
of effect with William Turner because of the texture...but my guess is that
it is the same coating...both containing brighteners.  In contrast, Cone's
Wells River...has absolutely no brighteners...the Hahnemuhle mystery
continues....


Robert


On 4/18/02 10:44 AM, "Robert Morrison" <rmorrison@...> wrote:

> Here's an update on optical brighteners in fine art papers for those that
> care.  Several list members have sent me paper samples which I have tested
> as described below.
> 
> Dot Work's Jet Maxx--strong glow in coating (Jeff Randall--source)
> 
> Dot Work's Nature Jet Fine Art Coated--medium glow in coating (Jeff
> Randall--source)
> 
> Epson Textured Fine Art--No glow in either paper or coating (Mike
> Kravit--source)
> 
> Epson Smooth Fine Art----No glow in either paper or coating (Mike
> Kravit--source)
> 
> Hahnemuhle William Turner 310gm--strong glow in paper--less no glow in
> coating (Mike Kravit--source)
> 
> The Nature jet does have OB's in the coating...but there are definitely less
> than a paper like EAM.  I hadn't seen this paper before.  It has a nice
> medium weight a nice hand.  It is also cheap in comparison to the other fine
> art papers ($32.50 for 50 letter sized sheets).  I'll print some later and
> report.
> 
> The Jet Maxx looks like EAM and is half the price...might be a good option
> for a proofing paper...will also print on that later and report.
> 
> In light of the William Turner result I went back and tested the "Wells
> River" sample that I had from inkjetmall.com  This was presumably Hahnemuhle
> William Turner with a different surface.  It might be the same coating...but
> it is not the same paper...the wells river has no brighteners in the paper,
> whereas the William Turner 300gm definitely does have brighteners in the rag
> content of the paper.  I'd say this makes this paper the best of the
> Hahnemuhle papers...but unlike Cone's old Wells River, it does not get the
> "Morrison OB Free" seal of approval (ha ha).
> 
> So, my updated list of OB free fine art papers is as follows:
> 
> Eclipse Satine Soft White (300)
> Epson Textured Fine Art (225)
> Epson Smooth Fine Art (225)
> Museo (250 and 365)
> Wells River (190)
> 
> Robert
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> William On 4/8/02 7:07 PM, "Robert Morrison" <rmorrison@...> wrote:
> 
>> After the latest debate about whether Photo Rag has OB's or not...I purchased
>> a black light (with a SB-4W bulb).
>> 
>> I turned out the lights in my studio and turned on the UV bulb.  The
>> following
>> comments are based on examining both sides of the paper.  For coated one side
>> papers this tells you whether the OB's are in the paper or in the coating.
>> If
>> the coating side glows and the back side is dark then the OB's are in the
>> coating.  If both sides are the same then the OB's are in the paper.
>> 
>> EAM--Strong glow in the coating
>> Photo Rag--Strong glow in the paper
>> Orwell (German Etching)--Strong glow in the paper
>> Wells River (William Turner)--No glow in either paper or coating
>> Museo--No glow in either paper or coating
>> Eclipse Satine Soft White--No glow in either paper or coating
>> 
>> Its important to note that the glow coming off of the Photo Rag and German
>> etching is nearly as strong as the glow coming off the EAM.  From my own fade
>> testing, EAM and Orwell both yellow very quickly when exposed to full sun in
>> a
>> window...this is most likely due to the OB's burning off.
>> 
>> If you saw what I did tonight...your mind would be made up.  EAM, Photo Rag
>> and German Etching have OB's in them...William Turner, Museo and Eclipse
>> Satine Soft White do not.
>> 
>> EAM was from Altex, Photo Rag, Museo and Eclipse were from photoinkjet.com,
>> Orwell and Wells River were from inkjetmall.com.
>> 
>> As some of you know I have a very large collection of paper.  If there is
>> another paper that you are curious about, email me...if I have it I'll test
>> it
>> for you.
>> 
>> Robert  
>> 
>> ----------------------
>> Robert Morrison
>> rmorrison@...
>> 
>> 310-397-2704
>> 
>> 4131 Bledsoe Ave.
>> Los Angeles, CA 90066
> 
> ----------------------
> Robert Morrison
> rmorrison@...
> 
> 310-397-2704
> 
> 4131 Bledsoe Ave.
> Los Angeles, CA 90066
> 
> 
> 
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and other
> resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:
> 
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
> 
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - Include your full name with your message.
> - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep
> them short.
> - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject header.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or "flames."
> - Complete your Yahoo profile.
> - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the various
> resources on the homepage.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> 
> 

----------------------
Robert Morrison
rmorrison@...

310-397-2704

4131 Bledsoe Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066

Move to quarantaine

This moves the raw source file on disk only. The archive index is not changed automatically, so you still need to run a manual refresh afterward.