C86, R200, & PremierArt 205
2005-08-04 by Paul Roark
I have posted a Transfer Function and new recommendations for printing PremierArt 205 with the C86. See http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/C86-EZ-UT-Readme.htm In general, I've found that the C86 curves I posted for other papers can also be loaded as Transfer Functions. This avoids the possibility that one would apply a curve and forget that it had been applied. I did not like the way PA 205 printed with the EZ-N inks due to a cross-over from cool to warm in the deep shadows. This is cured by putting a warm cart in the Y position. So, between the Transfer Function and the EZ-W in the Y slot, the images are now very good. So, it joins the short list of papers I'm comfortable printing on for sale. I've also noticed that Atlex now carries the Premier Imaging papers. The PA 205 is not only priced very low, but there is also now both a natural (no-OBA) and the bright white version of this paper. See http://www.atlex.com/premier/fine-art-205.htm I prefer no-OBA papers, and there are very few available that I think much of. I've been using PermaJet Alpha for most of my printing lately, but with the demise of Jobo (the U.S. source), I may be using PA 205 a lot more. Both have very little flaking and match my Light Impressions matte board quite well. I prefer mounting with paper showing around the image. That way the image is never touched by the matte board. With no-OBA paper, there will not be a "shadow" on the paper from the light burning out the brighteners (which will happen in time with brightened paper - which also does not match the matte board well anyway). On another front, UT2 appears to work extremely well in the Epson R200. With Color Controls and no curves The little R200 appears to make an image on EEM that is as good as any printer-ink combination I've ever seen. I'll be working on bringing this little gem on stream ASAP. In terms of image quality it beats the C86. Whether a printer made for dyes is as reliable as one made for pigments is an open question. But, maybe at the low end with throw-away printers, it really is a moot question. Use it for a couple of years and throw it away. We'll see. Paul www.PaulRoark.com <http://www.paulroark.com/> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]