Digital BW, The Print

Derrick:

I should have quoted the next paragraph of what Bill Atkinson wrote,  
in which he gives his views on matte papers:

>  I keep testing fine art papers because I like the texture and feel  
> of a nice heavyweight matte paper, and I have seen some  attractive  
> work by other artists printed on matte papers.  However, I have not  
> yet found any art paper that can come close to  the depth and  
> clarity that I get from photo papers.  The best black I can get  
> with most matte papers is L=23 instead of L=3.4 This makes a huge  
> and unacceptable degradation of image quality.  When I make the  
> exact same print on both papers and  place framed prints side-by- 
> side on easels, I and my friends always end up choosing the print  
> made on photo paper.   Once the textured edges are covered with a  
> mat, and the rest of the image is framed with plexiglass, all that  
> is left of the  art paper print is a huge drop in clarity,  
> saturation, depth, and detail.  Even pastel orchid prints look  
> better on photo paper.   I am still waiting for someone to make a  
> rag paper that will deliver the depth, clarity, and and tonal range  
> of luster.   It would be nice if this paper could use the photo  
> black ink so I didn't have to compromise the reliability and  
> repeatability  of my printer by switching back and forth between  
> different inks.

--Mitch/Bangkok