Digital BW, The Print

There's been a lot of discussion on this forum and the EpsonWideFormat 
forum about getting "satisfactory blacks" on matte paper. But there's 
no getting away from it, glossy papers have better Dmax than matte 
papers: In his book, "The Print", Ansel Adams wrote that:

> Maximum image brilliance is obtained on a smooth, glossy-surfaced 
> paper, which can have a reflectance of up to 1:100 and higher..The 
> matte papers have a much lower brilliance, with a reflection-density 
> range of about 1:25.

For ink jet prints there has been a lot of interest in matte papers 
because some of the pigment inks cannot be used to print in glossy-type 
papers, and also because the look and feel of many of the matte papers 
is better than of the glossy-type papers. And even if you can print on 
glossy papers, with B&W there's the bronzing problem with Ultrachrome 
inks.

As I wrote in a posting last month, I came to conclusion after 
extensive testing that my color prints, using Ultrachrome inks on the 
Epson 7600,  looked a lot better on Epson Premium Matte (using Photo 
Black) than on EEM or Photo Rag (using Matte Black). And once the print 
is framed under glass, its weight and feel is irrelevant.

So, to prepare color prints for a forthcoming exhibition, I've had to 
change back to Photo Black, which now leaves me the problem of what to 
do about B&W prints. The only bright spot on the horizon that I've seen 
is Robert Morrison's reference to a new Oriental Seagull paper that 
(may be) glossy and use Photo Black and (may not be) subject to 
bronzing. Anyone have any further information on this paper, or other 
papers that could solve my Photo/Matte Black problem?

--Mitch/Potomac, MD

Mitch,

I've heard that Jetprint Pro and Pictorico Film exhibit less bronzing 
than other glossy papers.  I haven't tried Jetpro yet, but have 
printed on Pictorico Photo Gallery Hi-Gloss White Film using the 2200 
profile supplied by Pictorico, and I must say the operative word here 
is "less."  There is still some layering, or "bronzing" effect on 
most of my photos.

I'll be interested in hearing any solutions others have found.  

Dan

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Dan Honemann" 
<dan_honemann@y...> wrote:
> Mitch,
> 
> I've heard that Jetprint Pro and Pictorico Film exhibit less 
bronzing 
> than other glossy papers.  I haven't tried Jetpro yet, but have 
> printed on Pictorico Photo Gallery Hi-Gloss White Film using the 
2200 
> profile supplied by Pictorico, and I must say the operative word 
here 
> is "less."  There is still some layering, or "bronzing" effect on 
> most of my photos.
> 
> I'll be interested in hearing any solutions others have found.  
> 
> Dan

Hello
I tried pictorico film and the gallery glossy, a couple of the ilford
glossy and semi papers, as well as the run of epson stuff.
Finally Ive happily settled on Epson Professional Glossy (aka Glossy 
Paper Photo Weight)
The paper exhibits the least collective problems of the glossy types.
There is still some bronzing, but surprisingly less than I expected.
Ive sold a couple of 12 x 18 prints on it that look fantastic.
Very good color saturation. It appears to have a slightly warmer tone 
to it that the other epson glossy/semi papers.
My only beef is the slight though evident buckling under heavy black 
areas.
Mounting would take care of it, but Id obviously prefer it not present
Oh, there is also a very slight texture to the surface. It is barely 
noticable, but maybe adds a bit depth to the appearance of the photo.
I downloaded a profile from Epsons UK site. Its for the 2100, but...
I print NCA using Epson Premium Semigloss as the "media type" and 
soft proof using the 2100 pro glossy profile.
Frank
Frank