Topic: Selecting a fine art Paper (Read 5019 times)

kevs · « **on:** July 18, 2010, 08:41:05 pm »

Curious what others are choosing to print their archival fine art images on? and why? thanks.

I have been using Epson ultra premium presentation paper -formerly Enhanced Matte for my portfolio prints, but am now just getting into the fine art world. I'm sure it's archival enough. I like it because it's so cheap and fast. I'm on Epson 2400.

neile · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2010, 12:40:33 am »

Quote from: kevs

Curious what others are choosing to print their archival fine art images on? and why? thanks.

I have been using Epson ultra premium presentation paper -formerly Enhanced Matte for my portfolio prints, but am now just getting into the fine art world. I'm sure it's archival enough. I like it because it's so cheap and fast. I'm on Epson 2400.

I assume you are interested in matte papers given what you're currently printing on, rather than glossy baryta papers. Take a look at the new Moab Somerset Musem Rag. It's very nice! My review is at http://www.danecreekfolios.com/blog/2010/7...per-review.html.

Another fine option is Epson Hot/Cold Press in either bright or natural. If you are concerned about OBAs the natural version is OBA-free.

Neil

kevs · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2010, 08:40:04 pm »

thanks Niele.
What is OBA?

What is Epson Hot/ Cold about?
Didn't Epson release recently a paper geared just for fine art?

DarkPenguin · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2010, 09:21:35 pm »

Quote from: kevs

thanks Niele.
What is OBA?

What is Epson Hot/ Cold about?
Didn't Epson release recently a paper geared just for fine art?

Optical Brightening Agents. They react to UV light and increase the apparent brightness of the paper. They eventually fade leaving a paper that may or may not have the same underlying white point as the OBA filled paper. They also require UV light to work. So if the paper is under UV blocking glass they will not work.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/...papers-09.shtml

Epson has released a lot of papers for fine art.

Sven W · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2010, 03:56:40 pm »

Quote from: kevs

Curious what others are choosing to print their archival fine art images on? and why? thanks.

I have been using Epson ultra premium presentation paper -formerly Enhanced Matte for my portfolio prints, but am now just getting into the fine art world. I'm sure it's archival enough. I like it because it's so cheap and fast. I'm on Epson 2400.

There's a huge amount of FineArt-papers out there, and why people choose a certain paper depends on many things:
You like a certain paper´s surface, tone, weight and its performance (Dmax, colorgamut) on a specific printer.
Non-OBA, 100% cotton, ligninfree, buffered, are also important factors for a true archival paper.
Then comes price, sizes, supported profiles and availability.

Check with ShadesofPaper, they have a lot of sample-packs for you to explore.
/Sven

kevs · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2010, 08:33:47 pm »

THANKS Sven,
nice resource.
But too much to test.
Now Epson make an ultra smooth. good place to start?
16 x20 sheets can get to $15 a sheet. Pretty steep no?

neile · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2010, 09:20:01 pm »

Quote from: kevs

THANKS Sven,
nice resource.
But too much to test.

You can also try my Inkjet Paper List. I've tested almost 100 papers, and it's an easy way for you to filter and sort to look for papers with the specific qualities you are after. Then you can look around the web for reviews to see what people think of them. A search in this forum is also a good way, as many of the papers have been mentioned/discussed in prior threads.

Neil

kevs · « **Reply #7 on:** July 21, 2010, 12:39:01 am »

HOrrid site. they make you download an excel file, which then has a url to go to -- which does not work!

neile · « **Reply #8 on:** July 21, 2010, 01:15:34 am »

Quote from: kevs

HOrrid site. they make you download an excel file, which then has a url to go to -- which does not work!

Er, it's my site What issue were you having with the URLs? Do you mean the ones that were listed in the "Paper" column? What part of that didn't work? If you control-click on them they should open the websites for each company.

Neil

dgberg · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2010, 05:08:58 am »

Neil,
I think he is trying to open the url at the top middle of the page. It does not open.

For the op, go to the bottom of the page to get to the meat. Where it says introduction.

neile · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2010, 11:06:05 am »

I've updated the page to include a link to the "view in web browser" option for the spreadsheet which should (hopefully) fix the issues you guys were seeing. It also means you don't have to download the spreadsheet anymore.

Try going to: http://cid-b7b4130404246d99.office.live.co...20Database.xlsx.

Hopefully that fixes things up for you guys!

Neil

Randy Carone · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2010, 11:16:26 am »

Neil,

I too had problems accessing the Excel file in the original link. The new link brings up a narrow window and the Open in Excel button is disabled. Is it possible to simply post a pdf file of the data?

Thanks,

JeffKohn · « **Reply #12 on:** July 21, 2010, 11:21:33 am »

I had no problems accessing the Excel spreadsheet, it's a useful resource - thanks. Online versions seems to work fine as well. A PDF would not be optimal, since you'd lose the filtering/sorting capabilities which make the spreadsheet so useful.

Randy Carone · « **Reply #13 on:** July 21, 2010, 11:29:29 am »

Working fine now. I don't know what happened the first time I accessed it.

dgberg · « **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2010, 12:44:12 pm »

Neil,
Works now for me too.
Thanks

kevs · « **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2010, 08:10:17 pm »

Sorry Neile!
I'm still not accustomed to looking for the bottom worksheets. no problem at all!
You keep this up to date at this bookmark?
Don't understand a lot of it, but I will one day!
Man, overwhelming!

neile · « **Reply #16 on:** July 23, 2010, 01:33:47 am »

Quote from: kevs

You keep this up to date at this bookmark?
Don't understand a lot of it, but I will one day!
Man, overwhelming!

Yes, I do. But honestly, I would just start with a few of the papers that were mentioned at the very start of the thread. You got some pointers to some fine papers, any of which will likely suit your needs. Order a few samples from a place like Shades of Paper. They will send you a few samples of the different papers you are interested in so you can try them out before ordering a box.

Neil

kevs · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2010, 12:05:33 am »

thanks Neil!

peninsula · « **Reply #18 on:** July 31, 2010, 08:19:12 am »

Quote from: kevs

Curious what others are choosing to print their archival fine art images on? and why? thanks.

I have been using Epson ultra premium presentation paper -formerly Enhanced Matte for my portfolio prints, but am now just getting into the fine art world. I'm sure it's archival enough. I like it because it's so cheap and fast. I'm on Epson 2400.

Of fine art matt papers, one I'd recommend trying: http://www.hahnemuehle.com/prod/en/212/411...th-305-gsm.html

howseth · « **Reply #19 on:** July 31, 2010, 01:46:43 pm »

Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Satin: Two surfaces in one! It's a sort of, well, not quite glossy, wait the whites are mat! This paper is different.

Howard

Author Topic: Selecting a fine art Paper (Read 5019 times)

DarkPenguin

peninsula