Matte & Glossy-type Papers/Photo Black-Matte Black
2003-08-15 by Mitch Alland
On the EpsonWideForum list I reported on my conclusions that, after experimenting with EEM and Photo Rag, I would have to switch my 7600 back to Photo Black ink and use Epson Premium Semi-Matte in order to make sale prints for an exhibition of color prints that I am having here in Bangkok in December. That leaves me with the situation that has often been discussed on this and other groups, that, with the 9600/7600 Ultrachrome ink printers, color looks better on glossy-type papers and b&w looks better on matte papers -- and the problem is that is is expensive in terms of wasted ink to switch back and forth between Photo Black and Matte Black ink. And there's nothing that I can do about this at this stage as getting second 7600 is not an option for me. The only bright spot on the horizon seems to be the possibility of a new Oriental Seagull paper that prints b&w optimally with Photo Black apparently without bronzing on which Robert Morrison reported here in June. Is there any more news on the characteristics and release date of this paper? Are there any other papers that may work well for printing b&w with Photo Black? Or am I just grasping at straws -- and I just have to look to expensive changes between Photo Black and Matte Black if I want good color and good b&w prints from the same 7600 printer? --Mitch/Bangkok