Luminous Landscape Forum

Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks => Topic started by: John V. on January 29, 2015, 04:00:29 am

Title: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: John V. on January 29, 2015, 04:00:29 am
Looking for a paper with a least reflective surface that uses PK black. Any ideas? So far only HFA Photo Rag Pearl is on the list...
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: pluton on January 29, 2015, 04:28:13 am
The Canson Baryta Photographique has a smooth but not very shiny surface...almost like a textureless semi-matte.
Personally, I preferred the the glossier, less warm-toned, more textured surface of the Harmon Bartya, but that paper had severe curl issues.
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: Jager on January 29, 2015, 06:07:49 am
Similar to Baryta Photographique, Canson's Platine Rag has a mild luster finish, without a lot of gloss.  A lovely cotton rag paper.

Probably the photo-black paper with the least sheen I've used is Jon Cone Studio 5.  That's a warm, baryta paper with a gentle tooth.  Like Platine Rag, it has a cotton substrate.  For me, its unique qualities sit somewhere between matte and glossy papers.  I use more of it than anything else.
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: Pic One on January 29, 2015, 06:58:58 am
You could use a matte paper with Photo Black..  eg. does Epson still provide PK profiles for many of its own matte papers?
eg.
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?infoType=FAQ&oid=94507&foid=103620 (http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?infoType=FAQ&oid=94507&foid=103620)
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on January 29, 2015, 07:21:19 am
Museo Silver Rag
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: bill t. on January 29, 2015, 01:25:40 pm
If you're looking for a glossy at the low end of the glossy spectrum, I would second Silver Rag.  Very elegant surface, slight stipple.  But it's latest incarnation is a little bit glossier and a little less stipply than before, and about 15 mils thick.  I use it a lot, it looks terrific and is physically optimal for those of us who  mount prints.  Excellent gamut, you can get Velvia-like greens if you're not careful.

If you have a PK-only setup and you want the ultimate non-reflective surface, the Epson Hot or Cold Press papers soaks up light from any direction without a hint of reflection or hazing no matter where the light is coming from, and the prints are very rich looking for a matte paper.  As mentioned, Epson used to publish PK versions of profiles for many of its matte papers, back in the non-switchable black ink days of the 9800 series.  The penalty for PK on matte is longer drying time and perhaps a slightly raised d-max.
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: Geraldo Garcia on January 29, 2015, 01:35:29 pm
Photo Rag Satin is a beautiful (and, at the same time, weird) paper that can make use of matte black or photo black inks.
It is not glossy or semi-gloss but it is not matte either. Works beautifully with bight images but renders muddy shadow areas.
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: Czornyj on January 31, 2015, 06:40:35 am
Photo Rag Satin is a beautiful (and, at the same time, weird) paper that can make use of matte black or photo black inks.
It is not glossy or semi-gloss but it is not matte either. Works beautifully with bight images but renders muddy shadow areas.

+1! I love PRS, it looks like it had some kind of "wax" mixed into cotton fibres, which gives some "metallic shine" to the printed parts of the image and a punch to the colors.
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: Justan on January 31, 2015, 10:06:06 am
Looking for a paper with a least reflective surface that uses PK black. Any ideas? So far only HFA Photo Rag Pearl is on the list...

Out of curiosity, what kinds of things are you planning to do with the paper you’re inquiring about?
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: John Caldwell on January 31, 2015, 10:40:44 am
You could use a matte paper with Photo Black..  eg. does Epson still provide PK profiles for many of its own matte papers?

This would be my approach. I use, and like, each of the papers mentioned above they are not at all matte surfaces, in my mind.

PK on matte paper works, but the deep shadows and black point won't be quite right.

John-
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: John V. on January 31, 2015, 01:43:06 pm
Out of curiosity, what kinds of things are you planning to do with the paper you’re inquiring about?

Oh nothing special. It was a request. Sorry to bore you to death. Thanks everyone.
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: Larry Heath on January 31, 2015, 11:49:45 pm
I’ve been printing on Canson Infinity Rag Photographique 210 gsm with photo black on an Epson 9880 with K3 inks. It seems to produce quite nice color images with no reflection/glare at all, can be viewed at almost any angle. It is very tolerant of varied light sources, with no color shifts that I can see. I have not printed any B&W images on it as yet; though blacks in the color images are quite nice, at a guess I’d say Dmax of around 1.9. I use the “ultra smooth fine art” paper setting in the printer properties. Paper white is better than BC Pura Smooth to my eye. Cost is not bad at all, I paid around $275 for a 50’ roll in 44”.

Later Larry
Title: Re: paper with least reflective surface that uses photo black ink?
Post by: JRSmit on February 01, 2015, 07:34:48 am
Looking for a paper with a least reflective surface that uses PK black. Any ideas? So far only HFA Photo Rag Pearl is on the list...
innova ifa29 is the least reflective paper i know. Does a beautiful job. Very good Dmax for a paper this matte.