Digital BW, The Print

Hello All,

Well, I gave in to my baser instincts and ordered an Epson 4800.  Ideally, I 
would like to print roughly equal amounts of the "4 basic photo food 
groups": B&W matte, B&W glossy, color matte, and color glossy.  But until 
someone figures out a way to cheaply switch from PK to MK and back, I may 
choose to leave one or the other flavor of black in the machine for longish 
times.

I'll have the PK in the machine for starters (since I understand the Matte K 
doesn't even come with the package).  So, given that, what is the most 
"matte-like" paper I can use, and still obtain good Dmax with the PK ink?  I 
appreciate the feel and look of the fine art papers, but know I probably 
can't get it with PK-compatible paper.  So my goal is to minimize surface 
reflections, and also to minimize the "plasticky" appearance of most RC 
papers.

I'm leaning toward Epson Premium Semi-Matte, based on good things I've heard 
from Paul Roark and others on this forum.  Are there other contenders I 
should consider?

Thanks in advance!

John Broski

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "John Broski"
<jbroski@s...> wrote:

John:
I just got one from Sammy's in Costa Mesa (soCal area) and I'm
struggling with paper choices: not many options in the Epson paper
selection window.  Buying the machine is just the beginning of the
work!  I bought matt black (220ml- sticks out of printer body) and I
wonder if when I switch the cart, the cart has to be tossed.  I'm
going to give the stock BW inks a try- then if I need to go to
greyscale inks, I'll get some for it (if available!?) or sell it and
get a different printer.  

> Hello All,
> 
> Well, I gave in to my baser instincts and ordered an Epson 4800. 
Ideally, I 
> would like to print roughly equal amounts of the "4 basic photo
food 
> groups": B&W matte, B&W glossy, color matte, and color glossy.  But
until 
> someone figures out a way to cheaply switch from PK to MK and back,
I may 
> choose to leave one or the other flavor of black in the machine for
longish 
> times.
> 
> I'll have the PK in the machine for starters (since I understand the
Matte K 
> doesn't even come with the package).  So, given that, what is the
most 
> "matte-like" paper I can use, and still obtain good Dmax with the PK
ink?  I 
> appreciate the feel and look of the fine art papers, but know I
probably 
> can't get it with PK-compatible paper.  So my goal is to minimize
surface 
> reflections, and also to minimize the "plasticky" appearance of
most RC 
> papers.
> 
> I'm leaning toward Epson Premium Semi-Matte, based on good things
I've heard 
> from Paul Roark and others on this forum.  Are there other
contenders I 

> should consider?
> 
> Thanks in advance!
> 
> John Broski