Digital BW, The Print

Thank-you for your in depth reply.  I'll try some of these in the next little while.

peter


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark" <
paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> 
> 
> >... opinions on which Epson papers are most archival when displayed 
> >under glass and printed with UT inks please? 
> 
> Epson UltraSmooth and Epson Premium Semigloss sprayed with 
PremierArt Print
> Shield have done the best in my initial fade tests.  However, I have not
> tested a huge number of papers, and the margin of these 2 over others is 
not
> that great.  In particular, the other non-flaking matte papers from PermaJet
> and Innova, below, have not been tested, but I expect them to do well.  I
> have a bias toward papers with no or little optical brighteners ("OBAs").
> Both UltraSmooth and Premium Semigloss have no OBAs.
> 
> >I'm trying to retain the look of a photograph, so less texture is better.  
> >(Although, I really like the character of the deep, saturated 
> >blacks possible with inks.)
> 
> Try some Premium Semigloss or Premium Semimatte sprayed with 
PremierArt.  
> 
> >I've read about flaking and other issues with non-OEM papers.  
> >Is this just as much an issue with Epson papers? 
> 
> UltraSmooth doesn't flake and is probably the same as PremierArt Fine Art
> Hot Press.  Permajet Imagelife papers don't flake significantly (Jobo
> 800-664-0344, mention my name for a discount), nor do Innova papers
> (www.shadesofpaper.com).  A little compressed air on the surface of paper 
is
> not a bad idea for any sheet that will be a final print.
> 
> > They charge an awfully high price for their papers.   Are there 
> >other brands of paper that are better or more economical ...
> 
> PremierArt has a 205 weight of its Fine Art Hot Press that is quite
> economical for such a paper.  MIS (www.inksupply.com) and 
www.ITSupplies.com
> carries it.
> 
> The best bargain in matte acid free papers may be 210 weight Premier 
Imaging
> Premium Matte paper. This double sided paper has a huge dmax of over 
1.7 and
> is cheap -- 50 letter-size sheets for $13 at Photo Warehouse (the retail arm
> of Premier Imaging).  It is a highly brightened (lots of OBAs) paper.  See
> http://www.photowarehouse.biz/premier.html .  This paper is so new that I
> have not yet had a chance to write curves for it.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com