Topic: Looking for a good ol' luster RC (Read 5042 times)

Dale_Cotton · « **on:** September 08, 2008, 09:10:36 am »

Hopelessly retro given the current infatuation with fiber, but I need as tough a surface as possible for unsleeved portfolios. I'd be perfectly happy with Epson Premium Luster if it weren't for the incredibly cheesy and distracting watermarking on the back.

Is there an Premium Luster clone with the same off-whiteness and very good colour gamut and dMax with K3 inks?

KeithR · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2008, 09:44:42 am »

Quote

Hopelessly retro given the current infatuation with fiber, but I need as tough a surface as possible for unsleeved portfolios. I'd be perfectly happy with Epson Premium Luster if it weren't for the incredibly cheesy and distracting watermarking on the back.

Is there an Premium Luster clone with the same off-whiteness and very good colour gamut and dMax with K3 inks?
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Here's one you may want to try:
[a href=\"http://www.hawkmtnartpapers.com/photo.htm]http://www.hawkmtnartpapers.com/photo.htm[/url]
I've had very good luck with the luster(not a fan of glossy) and they are very affordable.

na goodman · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2008, 10:18:32 am »

You could also try injetart.com for their luster or Ilford smooth pearl. Neither are watermarked.

Gordon Buck · « **Reply #3 on:** September 08, 2008, 10:41:22 am »

I tried the Inkjetart house brand of luster and now use it for all casual shots, give-aways to friends and family, etc. I don't see much difference between it and the Epson luster but don't know about longevity, etc.

neil snape · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2008, 03:41:07 pm »

I don't have but a few sample on Lustre here. I do however have a few rolls of HP Professional Satin which is a great paper. Not a cheap mystery paper but a real unmarked satin >300 g/m2 that has low OBA (almost none) and a surface similar to Epson Lustre.

Not saying it is the only paper but a very good one, good scratch resistance, 100% waterproof, easy mounting etc. Worth a sample pack to try.

Tim Gray · « **Reply #5 on:** September 08, 2008, 06:13:44 pm »

Quote

Hopelessly retro given the current infatuation with fiber, but I need as tough a surface as possible for unsleeved portfolios. I'd be perfectly happy with Epson Premium Luster if it weren't for the incredibly cheesy and distracting watermarking on the back.

Is there an Premium Luster clone with the same off-whiteness and very good colour gamut and dMax with K3 inks?
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

check [a href=\"http://www.ccbc-club.com/]http://www.ccbc-club.com/[/url] - they have a generic lustre that I use - On King, just east of Spadia, across from MEC.

budjames · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2008, 09:36:05 pm »

I have three unopened boxes of 8-1/2" x 11" Epson Premium Luster paper. Make me an offer.
I live in the Philly burbs, near Doylestown, PA.

Bud James

Nill Toulme · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2008, 10:22:46 pm »

I've been using InkJet Art MC Luster as my standard paper for several years. It's great. It's actually more similar (if not identical) to the "250" variety of Epson Premium Luster that you get in the rolls, as distinguished from the cut sheets. The coating and surface finish are slightly different, and nicer IMO.

Nill

Dale_Cotton · « **Reply #8 on:** September 09, 2008, 07:11:55 am »

I hope you folk in the USA realize how lucky you are to have so many paper choices available. I will definitely explore the US-only options, such as InkjetArt and Hawk Mountain, if the options available locally pan out, so thanks to those of you who took the time to recommend them. I can ship them up, it's just that there is an added charge for brokering on top of international shipping, and of course returning a defective box would be a hassle.

Neil: HP Satin is available here, so I will give that a try - thanks.

Tim: I had to laugh: CCBC's house luster (rebadged Premier Art?) is what I use for all my draft work. The price is definitely right! If it weren't so darned white I'd use it for final prints as well. Not only is the pure white too glaring in the margins for my tastes, but as the OBAs fade it yellows (prints from 3 or 4 years ago show this), so I'd rather compensate for the yellowing up front, rather than have a colour cast spoil the image down the road.

Ken Bennett · « **Reply #9 on:** September 09, 2008, 10:32:11 am »

I'll add another vote for the Inkjetart house-brand luster paper. Great stuff -- I use it for all my everyday printing and presentation work.

I don't know what the Epson papers cost in Toronto, but given the price differential, it might still be cheaper to have the Inkjetart paper shipped to you.

www.inkjetart.com

I got started with their sample packs when I got my 3800. It was nice to be able to print the same image on a dozen different papers and compare.

hsmeets · « **Reply #10 on:** September 09, 2008, 04:57:54 pm »

Hi,

I vote for Ilford Gallery Smooth Pearl, look and feel is much like the RC paper from the wet darkroom and the surface seems to be more durable opposed to the fiber papers as mentioned by the first poster.

Cheers,

Huib
www.huibsmeets.com

Barry Prager · « **Reply #11 on:** September 12, 2008, 12:47:01 am »

I too use the InkJetArt Luster 250. They say it's the same as the Epson paper, and it looks the same to me. Real nice results, but you have to be careful that the print is completely dry, or you may suffer the dreaded out gassing problem to one degree or another.

Ken Doo · « **Reply #12 on:** September 12, 2008, 11:00:56 am »

Kodak Professional's lustre media is very similar to the Epson lustre----but I like the Kodak better. Ilford has a little more heft to it..... Kodak comes in 10" rolls up to 24" wide rolls.

russell a · « **Reply #13 on:** September 13, 2008, 01:15:08 pm »

I have two un-opened rolls of 24"x100' Proof Line Luster from Mid-States Graphics which, when I was using Luster, I preferred to Epson. Make me an offer. I'm North of Philly.

Dale_Cotton · « **Reply #14 on:** September 15, 2008, 08:16:51 am »

Thanks, all, for your further replies!

Ilford Smooth Pearl is available here in Toronto but at a prohibitive price. I print with a 3800 (17", sheet-only), so roll paper is not a practical option.

That seems to exhaust all locally available options so it looks as though I'll need to order up the inkjetart Luster that seems to be so popular.

Nill Toulme · « **Reply #15 on:** September 15, 2008, 10:05:06 am »

Speaking of which (and not helpful to you, but just for reference...), another nice thing about the IJA MC Luster is that it comes in 17" rolls, instead of Epson's goofy 16".

Nill

bill t. · « **Reply #16 on:** September 16, 2008, 08:22:09 pm »

Nill, how is the metamerism and gloss differential on IJA Luster (for Epson 7800)? About the same maybe?

Nill Toulme · « **Reply #17 on:** September 16, 2008, 08:44:38 pm »

It's pretty much the same as the 250 (roll) version of Epson Premium Luster. (I understand the sheet version of EPL has an additional coating to allow for the use of dye-based inks, so it's not quite as good in those respects.)

Nill

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