Digital BW, The Print

Hi all,

I just spent about an hour going blind looking through the archives
via the search function, but with all the ink/paper combinations out
there it was numbing.  So...I am here asking an easy question.  Sorry.

So I am old-school - UT2 on an Epson 1280.  It works for me.  I
finally ran out of my permajet alpha, which I really liked, and it's
not available in the US.  So I'm looking for a comparable paper.

People had recommended Innova Smooth Cotton before, but it's a lot
whither than expected.  I think it's because I got confused and bought
the bright white variety.  

I can get the natural white, but I've seen some comments about it
having lower dmax than, say, Premier Art Smooth Hot Press.

So.  Recommendations?  I like the roughly $50ish for 25 sheets of
13x19 range.  205-300gsm, with a double-sided option is nice, too.  

thanks.  sorry for what is probably a dumb question.
allan

Hmm...the great paper chase states that I should get better dmax with
eboni on the smooth cotton than on hot press.  Also, it does not seem
like the natural white is available as I thought I had seen.  Which means.

Argh.  I really liked that permajet alpha in warmth.

allan

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Allan Chen"
<allan@...> wrote:

>
> Hi all,
> 
> I just spent about an hour going blind looking through the archives
> via the search function, but with all the ink/paper combinations out
> there it was numbing.  So...I am here asking an easy question.  Sorry.
> 
> So I am old-school - UT2 on an Epson 1280.  It works for me.  I
> finally ran out of my permajet alpha, which I really liked, and it's
> not available in the US.  So I'm looking for a comparable paper.
> 
> People had recommended Innova Smooth Cotton before, but it's a lot
> whither than expected.  I think it's because I got confused and bought
> the bright white variety.  
> 
> I can get the natural white, but I've seen some comments about it
> having lower dmax than, say, Premier Art Smooth Hot Press.
> 
> So.  Recommendations?  I like the roughly $50ish for 25 sheets of
> 13x19 range.  205-300gsm, with a double-sided option is nice, too.  
> 
> thanks.  sorry for what is probably a dumb question.
> allan
>

I use UTR2 with Eboni and get better dmax on the Innova Smooth Cotton 
315 (not the bright white version) than on Premier Art Hot Press or 
Premier Art BW or Harmon FB Matte.  It's like a slightly less white 
version of Photo Rag Duo with a similar dmax.

You should be able to order it from shadesofpaper.com.

Roger


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Allan Chen" 
<allan@...> wrote:
>
> Hmm...the great paper chase states that I should get better dmax 
with
> eboni on the smooth cotton than on hot press.  Also, it does not 
seem
> like the natural white is available as I thought I had seen.  Which 
means.
> 
> Argh.  I really liked that permajet alpha in warmth.
> 
> allan
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Allan Chen"
> <allan@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> > 
> > I just spent about an hour going blind looking through the 
archives
> > via the search function, but with all the ink/paper combinations 
out
> > there it was numbing.  So...I am here asking an easy question.  
Sorry.
> > 
> > So I am old-school - UT2 on an Epson 1280.  It works for me.  I
> > finally ran out of my permajet alpha, which I really liked, and 
it's
> > not available in the US.  So I'm looking for a comparable paper.
> > 
> > People had recommended Innova Smooth Cotton before, but it's a lot
> > whither than expected.  I think it's because I got confused and 
bought
> > the bright white variety.  
> > 
> > I can get the natural white, but I've seen some comments about it
> > having lower dmax than, say, Premier Art Smooth Hot Press.
> > 
> > So.  Recommendations?  I like the roughly $50ish for 25 sheets of
> > 13x19 range.  205-300gsm, with a double-sided option is nice, 
too.  

> > 
> > thanks.  sorry for what is probably a dumb question.
> > allan
> >
>

> ... ran out of my permajet alpha, which I really liked, and it's
> not available in the US.  So I'm looking for a comparable paper.

MIS Alpha was the replacement.  It's Innova Soft Texture on an alpha 
cellulose base.  It usually prints the same as PJ Alpha -- also and old 
favorite of mine.  Sometimes with very dilute inksets, I've seen some 
mottling on the alpha cellulose version, due, I believe, to the lower 
absorbancy of the alpha cellulose base compared to the cotton base of 
the PJ Alpha.


> I can get the natural white, but I've seen some comments about it
> having lower dmax than, say, Premier Art Smooth Hot Press.

MIS Alpha/Innova Soft Texture has the same dmax as PJ Alpha, which is 
usually better than PA HP 205. 

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

Thanks Roger.  However, the only Innova Smooth Cotton anything I can
find is the Bright White variety.  shadesofpaper.com included.

allan

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Roger"
<rsmith02@...> wrote:

>
> I use UTR2 with Eboni and get better dmax on the Innova Smooth Cotton 
> 315 (not the bright white version) than on Premier Art Hot Press or 
> Premier Art BW or Harmon FB Matte.  It's like a slightly less white 
> version of Photo Rag Duo with a similar dmax.
> 
> You should be able to order it from shadesofpaper.com.
>

Thanks Paul.  So I gotta decide if I want to try out the Alpha
Cellulose base...or perhaps the Innova Soft Texture.  Hm.

thanks,
allan

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

>
> 
> > ... ran out of my permajet alpha, which I really liked, and it's
> > not available in the US.  So I'm looking for a comparable paper.
> 
> MIS Alpha was the replacement.  It's Innova Soft Texture on an alpha 
> cellulose base.  It usually prints the same as PJ Alpha -- also and old 
> favorite of mine.  Sometimes with very dilute inksets, I've seen some 
> mottling on the alpha cellulose version, due, I believe, to the lower 
> absorbancy of the alpha cellulose base compared to the cotton base of 
> the PJ Alpha.
> 
> 
> > I can get the natural white, but I've seen some comments about it
> > having lower dmax than, say, Premier Art Smooth Hot Press.
> 
> MIS Alpha/Innova Soft Texture has the same dmax as PJ Alpha, which is 
> usually better than PA HP 205. 
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
>

The MIS Alpha and Innova Soft Texture are the same.  PJ Alpha had the 
same coating but a cotton base.

I'd recommend trying the MIS Alpha/Innova Soft Texture.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Allan Chen" 
<allan@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks Paul.  So I gotta decide if I want to try out the Alpha
> Cellulose base...or perhaps the Innova Soft Texture.  Hm.
> 
> thanks,
> allan
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "pr_roark"
> <pr_roark@> wrote:
> >
> > 
> > > ... ran out of my permajet alpha, which I really liked, and it's
> > > not available in the US.  So I'm looking for a comparable paper.
> > 
> > MIS Alpha was the replacement.  It's Innova Soft Texture on an 
alpha 
> > cellulose base.  It usually prints the same as PJ Alpha -- also 
and old 
> > favorite of mine.  Sometimes with very dilute inksets, I've seen 
some 
> > mottling on the alpha cellulose version, due, I believe, to the 
lower 
> > absorbancy of the alpha cellulose base compared to the cotton 
base of 
> > the PJ Alpha.
> > 
> > 
> > > I can get the natural white, but I've seen some comments about 
it
> > > having lower dmax than, say, Premier Art Smooth Hot Press.
> > 
> > MIS Alpha/Innova Soft Texture has the same dmax as PJ Alpha, 
which is 

> > usually better than PA HP 205. 
> > 
> > Paul
> > www.PaulRoark.com
> >
>

I think the version I have was called "high white" and now is "bright
white."  That said, for my purposes I don't think it's very bright.  I
find it less white than PhotoRag, the bright white Entrada, Premier
Art Matte BW, etc.  

It's a bit whiter than regular Entrada.
I hope you find a good paper that suits you- Paul's recommendations
seem like a good place to start.  Harmon came out with warmtone
versions of their matte and FB glossy al papers, which could be worth
a look.

Roger


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Allan Chen"
<allan@...> wrote:

>
> Thanks Roger.  However, the only Innova Smooth Cotton anything I can
> find is the Bright White variety.  shadesofpaper.com included.
> 
> allan
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Roger"
> <rsmith02@> wrote:
> >
> > I use UTR2 with Eboni and get better dmax on the Innova Smooth Cotton 
> > 315 (not the bright white version) than on Premier Art Hot Press or 
> > Premier Art BW or Harmon FB Matte.  It's like a slightly less white 
> > version of Photo Rag Duo with a similar dmax.
> > 
> > You should be able to order it from shadesofpaper.com.
> >
>