Matte vs Glossy Paper and the Holy Grail
2004-04-02 by Mitch Alland
First, the holy grail for many people is the look of air-dried glossy paper, as described by Anselm Adams in _The_Print_ (p. 45): > Maximum image brilliance is obtained on a smooth, glossy-surfaced > paper, which can have a reflectance range of up to 1: 100 and > higher...The matte papers have much lower brilliance, with a > reflection-density range of about 1:25...I use glossy papers > comparable to Kodak's "F"- surface. Unferrotyped, these papers give a > smooth semi-gloss finish with long tonal range. Consider color prints: when I first got my Epson 7600 it came with Photo Black ink and I printed color on Epson Semi-Matte but then switched to Matte Black and printed on Epson Enhanced Matte and Hahnemuehle Photo Rag. However, when I needed to make extra color prints for an exhibition, it became very clear that prints with Matte Black ink on the latter two papers were nowhere near as "brilliant" as using the Photo Black/Semi-Matte combination. Anyone who looked at the two sets of prints preferred the prints made with Photo Black on Semi-Matte.; and I had to switch back to Photo Black to complete the prints for my exhibition. (However, I do understand that some people who are looking for a certain "look" are happy with or prefer Matte Black and matte paper.) For B&W prints, I also found more brilliance from the Photo Black/Semi-Matte than from Matte Black and matte paper, bearing out Anselm Adams observation above. But the trouble is that prints on Semi-Matte have some bronzing, although, paradoxically, I find the bronzing less objectionable on large (16x24") than small (A4) prints. Some people have suggested that Epson Pro Glossy paper has less bronzing, but for me the problem is that the largest roll that this paper is available in is 17", not 24". I have also heard that Oriental FB Glossy paper is less subject to bronzing than Semi-Matte but, apart from its cost, Paul Roark reports that this paper has substantially lower Dmax than EEM, and has a very fragile surface too boot. So for B&W, the bronzing problem remains, although it can be solved by laminating the print or by face-mounting on plexiglass which I have found is the most spectacular way to display a large print -- and that's as close to the holy grail that I can get. I'm sure that a lot of people will object that they prefer B&W prints on matte paper, with their long tonal range in the mid-tones which is similar to a platinum print. But that isn't my preference, as I am after deep, rich black and brilliance. --Mitch/Potomac, MD