Digital BW, The Print

Steve Kale wrote:
> Yes a drying agent (which also helps control dot gain etc).  The question is
> how you get it in/on the paper.  In a coating I guess it will sit on the
> surface and potentially be visible.
> 
> I completely agree with Ken and find this murkiness in disclosure in the
> paper manufacturing very disconcerting.  HPR still rules - at least they
> actually make paper themselves.

Steve,

I have been in the printing business for 30 years and know 
Hahnemuhle papers that long. The former agent here in Holland 
complained that the paper making machine could hardly cope 
with the demand when their digital papers became the best in 
the market. Schleicher & Schuell at that time the owners of 
Hahnemuhle didn't want to invest. Could be different now with 
the management buy-out but don't be surprised if Hahnemuhle 
buys extra paper from other mills too. Enough here that like 
to deliver at prices you can't buy another foudrinier for: 
Lana, Schut, some German mills and the Italians like Fabriano 
and Magnani. If you don't have a successful digital product on 
the market it is much harder to earn money in paper making. Of 
course a company that still makes paper itself has good 
quality control on what it receives.

Kaolin, zeolite, all kinds of minerals go into paper coatings. 
Binders like PVA and more exotic substances. Blades are used 
for heavy coatings like on the Hahnemuhle papers. Some 
manufacturers like Schoellershammer have digital papers that 
have a different sizing in the paper pulp, no extra coating is 
applied, somewhat like the Bockingford/Futures coating. A lot 
of the coating application is done by specialised companies 
that get big rolls of the substrate. Cutting to smaller sizes 
may happen closer to the consumers.

There's little chance you will get all the deals going on at 
the table. In coatings, substrate, machines used etc. This is 
a modern industry despite the 1500 AC labels on the packaging. 
For inks it isn't different. Even new software these days may 
be relabeled 6 years old technology.

                    --
           Ernst Dinkla


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