Digital BW, The Print

In my continuing struggle to get neutral b&w prints from my Epson 
2200 I accidently discovered that on light-weight photo paper and on 
the wrong side (the less-white, coarser side)of heavier weight matte 
paper, the prints are quite neutral.  On the right side of the matte 
paper they have their usual magenta cast.  What is happening here?  
Does this mean that there may be a particular matte paper on which 
the Epson will print neutral blacks?  Is it a function of ink 
absorption?   Edward

Hi Edward.

I believe the effect you are seeing is due to chemical interactions
between the paper coatings and inks. It varies from paper to paper and
is not confined to just the 2200. Print on 10 different papers and you
will likely get 10 different tones. It occures just as much with color
images but is not very noticeable there while with neutral tones it
pops out and becomes very obvious. I suspect it is the reason why so
many folks tend to use the same papers and limit their numbers.

Sorry you didn't get a better answer.
Best.
Duane




<mastedward@y...> wrote:

> 
> In my continuing struggle to get neutral b&w prints from my Epson 
> 2200 I accidently discovered that on light-weight photo paper and on 
> the wrong side (the less-white, coarser side)of heavier weight matte 
> paper, the prints are quite neutral.  On the right side of the matte 
> paper they have their usual magenta cast.  What is happening here?  
> Does this mean that there may be a particular matte paper on which 
> the Epson will print neutral blacks?  Is it a function of ink 
> absorption?   Edward