Raw & Post Processing, Printing > Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks

Which of the Baryta papers to choose and how and why?

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Sunshine7:
Hi all,

I am a big fan of Breathing Colors line of canvas and paper (Lyve canvas, Pura Velvet paper, Vibrance Metallic for example, and I'm looking to add their Silverada Metalic canvas as well as their Crystalline canvas to the mix to use this for photo prints on canvas, as well as their Vibrance Luster photo paper) and I am now looking to add a Baryta to my print options. Breathing Color is redoing their Baryta and they could not tell me when their improved Baryta is coming to the market so I am looking for alternatives.

This also in order to expand my small business where I mainly print for some friends as well as our own fine art reproductions. On request I'm now looking to print for some other photographers in my area, using only the absolute best papers etc. in order to stand out from our local print shop that just uses Epson papers. And I think its more fun that way too.

It sounds from what I read on this forum that Hahnemuhle Satin Baryta and Canson Platine would be good options, but I would love some input. Which Baryta papers would you recommend and why? or why not?

I have an Epson 9900 as well as a Canon ipf8400.

As an aside, I'm using the Ergosoft rip program which is an absolute pain to learn, and so far I've just used custom 'print environments' (these contain density linearizations as well as the printer profile) which were setup by people that know what they're doing, (and who paid a fortune in paper and consulting fees to get to where they are) but I've not found someone that has set Baryta papers up using Ergosoft, so I'll need to figure out dithering, dot sizes and ink limits etc by myself. (and I actually do not know what dot sizes are ;-) Anyway, maybe I can get some help from my friend who helped me before with this. But I do not really want to try different Baryta's to do this, because I know I'll spend too much time and money on this which I do not have available.

Thanks for any help with this! Always really appreciate the responses on this forum.

Jimbo57:
The only baryta paper that I can recommend (because it is the only one I use and I have never had any reason to change) is Fotospeed Platinum Baryta 300. It gives a very pleasing unglazed gloss image when I want something different from my usual matte papers.

How it compares with others could only be assessed by someone who has used others.

Jager:
Ilford's Gold Fiber Silk and Canson's Baryta Photographique are the two alpha-cellulose Baryta papers you'll hear recommended the most.  You should find them very similar to Hahnemuhle's version, I would think.  I used (and loved) Ilford's Gold Fiber Silk years ago when it first arrived.  When Ilford went through its first bankruptcy and that paper was discontinued I moved to Canson's Baryta Photographique (which seems to be the identical paper), which is what I continue using today.

All three Baryta papers from those firms are outstanding.  Just pick one.

Canson's Platine Fibre Rag has a similar Baryta finish, but on a cotton rag substrate.  It has a wonderful, elegant, tactile quality to it.  I can't recommend it highly enough when providing your very best prints to clients or galleries.

Sorry, no experience with StudioPrint.

rdonson:
On my Epson SC P800 I use Hahnemuhle Photo Silk Baryta and love the deep blacks I'm getting.

That said, Jeff's post has caused me to order some Canson to give it a try.  I hope the ICC profiles from their website are good.

Sbarroso:
The first I would say is: You have to see/test the papers! Descriptions may be vague. Some differences are hard to describe, but I can be huge for you(r taste).

second: When talking about "baryta", I would say "baryta-like". I mean, all Glossy non-RC papers (satin/luster/pearl finish) are competing in the same league. After some discussions in this forum, I haven't find yet any advantage of using papers with the "baryta" word vs those who don't have it. Some times there is just baryta enough to be allow to write this word, so very little.
The sames happens with "rag" (cotton) vs "fiber" (alpha cellulose). The first has higher reputation, but in practice it has to do more with the origin of the material than it's quality, which is in principle the same. So don't be impressed for words like Baryta and Rag. They tend to deliver ultimate quality, but they are not alone. Look at the final result.

What makes a difference on quality is if they contain OBAs (optical brighteners) or not. The first ones will reduce the longevity of your prints. Ilford Glod fiber silk, Canson baryta photographic and Hahnemühle Silk Baryta (which are virtually the same paper) contain some OBA, although it has been mentioned that their amount is acceptable, with little compromise. If you like bright whites and archival properties is not your ultimate goal, you can go for papers with OBA, other wise, keep away.

I currently use Hahnemühle papers: Silk baryta (common prints, best quality/price ratio), Baryta Satin (I love the surface, although it may be too warm for some applications) and Rag Baryta. I also use some times the Harman by Hanhnemühle Gloss baryta, for those pictures that demand extra gloss (mainly some landscapes), but it contains more OBAs than the Silk. (The "Warm Gloss Baryta" version contains OBA too!!).

To put an example about "Baryta": The canson Plantine does not contain baryta, and the Hahnemühle Rag pearl neither, but their are excellent papers and can be considered in the group of "baryta feeling".


Best,
Santiago

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