Digital BW, The Print

So, I've just made the conversion to a Digital Darkroom and love what I am able to get out 
of my R2400.  I have made prints of some of my medium format images that I have 
traditional versions of hanging on my walls and the similarities are staggering.  There are 
even some things I like better about the digital print.  

I'm currently printing on Premium Lustre, and was wondering if there is a paper that more 
closely resembles the "look" of a glossy fiber paper.  In the darkroom I would use Illford 
Multigrade.

I think it's just psychological but the digital prints on premium lustre look a little too much 
like RC prints, which I equate with non-archival, proof prints, etc.  And I'm afraid that if I 
try to show B&W work on it, it will have the same psychological effect on any 
photographers who view my work as well (well, traditionalists at least.)

Roderick,

Check out the numerous posts re Crane Silver Rag.  As far as emulating the
look of air-dried fiber paper it is not bad at all.  I thought it looked a
little like Ilford MG fiber.  It definitely does not resemble that RC stuff.
I think it is supposed to be available this month sometime. 

Ken 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On 
> Behalf Of Roderick Vesper
> Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 5:49 PM
> To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Digital BW] Suggestions for Paper for 2400 to mimic 
> Glossy Fiber Paper
> 
> So, I've just made the conversion to a Digital Darkroom and 
> love what I am able to get out of my R2400.  I have made 
> prints of some of my medium format images that I have 
> traditional versions of hanging on my walls and the 
> similarities are staggering.  There are even some things I 
> like better about the digital print.  
> 
> I'm currently printing on Premium Lustre, and was wondering 
> if there is a paper that more closely resembles the "look" of 
> a glossy fiber paper.  In the darkroom I would use Illford Multigrade.
> 
> I think it's just psychological but the digital prints on 
> premium lustre look a little too much like RC prints, which I 
> equate with non-archival, proof prints, etc.  And I'm afraid 
> that if I try to show B&W work on it, it will have the same 
> psychological effect on any photographers who view my work as 
> well (well, traditionalists at least.)

Try Epson Premium Semi Matte. I used to print on Agfa Classic and
Multi Grade Fiber. Premium Semi Matte has that look, and it does not
look so much like an RC paper. You must use the Photo Black ink on it.
See my post 69902 for suggested ABW settings. It is sold in 17 x 22
sheets so you have to cut it down to 8.5 x 11. Or to another size of
your preference and use the residual for test prints. There is a
company out there that will cut it for you from a roll. I can't
remember the name but you can do a search here for Epson Premium Semi
Matte; there was a recent post mentioning that company.

I've  printed on Ilford MG Fiber (and RC for proof sheets) for over 20
years.  When I started printing digital (Epson 4000, now 7800) I kept
looking for a paper similar to MG Fiber.  About 4 months  ago I tried
Kodak Premium Rapid-Dry Glossy Paper for my medium format color work
and liked it a lot.  I decided to give it a try for B/W and found I
actually prefer it to any other paper for B/W also.  The Kodak paper
is not a very close match to the MG Fiber... in my opinion it is
BETTER! I always wanted more shine/gloss with my air dried MG fiber
prints BUT did not want the plastic  MG RC look.  The Kodak paper
achieves this look, i.e. increased shine and more 'depth' without a
plastic RC look.  I have a 24 x 32 inch Kodak print surrounded by
about 8 11 x 14 MG FB prints in my living room.  Eventually I intend
to reprint or replace all the MG FB prints with prints on the Kodak
paper. ( Note, my remarks refer to prints not mounted behind glass.)

If you give the Kodak Premium Glossy a try I suggest you also consider
coating it with Premier Art Print Shield.  This increases the surface
shine and completely eliminates any gloss differential (either in the
highlights or shadow areas).  I use the Advanced B/W mode with my 7800
and am very happy with the results.

Ken


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Roderick Vesper"
<rod@...> wrote:
>
> So, I've just made the conversion to a Digital Darkroom and love
what I am able to get out 
> of my R2400.  I have made prints of some of my medium format images
that I have 
> traditional versions of hanging on my walls and the similarities are
staggering.  There are 
> even some things I like better about the digital print.  
> 
> I'm currently printing on Premium Lustre, and was wondering if there
is a paper that more 
> closely resembles the "look" of a glossy fiber paper.  In the
darkroom I would use Illford 
> Multigrade.
> 
> I think it's just psychological but the digital prints on premium
lustre look a little too much 
> like RC prints, which I equate with non-archival, proof prints, etc.
 And I'm afraid that if I 
> try to show B&W work on it, it will have the same psychological
effect on any 
> photographers who view my work as well (well, traditionalists at least.)
>

Exim Vaios cuts it down to size; they evidently cut the 8.5x11 from a
roll, as the paper I received was very curly, and it doesn't really
want to flatten much.  I do like the way it prints, though (K3 inks).

http://www.eximvaios.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=2_252_382

Is there a trick to flatten paper like this, or is it just something
you put up with until it's framed?

Eric

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "rgoldman2"
<rgoldman@...> wrote:

>
> Try Epson Premium Semi Matte. I used to print on Agfa Classic and
> Multi Grade Fiber. Premium Semi Matte has that look, and it does not
> look so much like an RC paper. You must use the Photo Black ink on it.
> See my post 69902 for suggested ABW settings. It is sold in 17 x 22
> sheets so you have to cut it down to 8.5 x 11. Or to another size of
> your preference and use the residual for test prints. There is a
> company out there that will cut it for you from a roll. I can't
> remember the name but you can do a search here for Epson Premium Semi
> Matte; there was a recent post mentioning that company.
>

Ken, what ABW settings do you prefer with this Kodak paper?
>