Yeah, I've had similar experiences with them. After just discussing the issues of profiling and how on their site with each paper there is a note saying that the HP profiling info or video is "coming soon". Never comes. When I recently discussed with Tech Support, I mentioned that they should consider getting a Z series printer so they could do extensive testing just like they have with Canon and Epson, and he admitted it would be a good idea and said he would suggest it. Question is, whether they actually will or not.
I just recently saw the Lyve Canvas and thought I would try it. It's beautiful, but like I say, the HP Pro Matte Canvas has a luminous quality that the BC lacks. I question how serious the OBA issue is with the HP canvas, since it seems to be their flagship product in canvas, and they reccommend it for museum work. Considering that the Vivera Ink claims to be good for 200 years, I wonder how it all works out with a canvas being good for 100 years, and of course the finish being applied and the storage or hanging conditions, etc.
I like the Chromata White - it seems fine to me. The Lyve claims to be 15% better, whatever that means. I've seen glitches in the weave, however which is disturbing, but probably expected at least minimally, in any canvas. The Lyve did print certain pieces beautifully and it's a nice smooth canvas. I think I will try the Fredrix 777, now that you have mentioned it, because I have several pieces that need the "paper look".
Regarding the Fredrix 777, I can't help but wonder about building a custom profile based on a media that uses PK ink in addition.
According to the info on HP's "working with other papers" pdf (attached) they show that Fine Art > Canvas > More Ink uses all the black inks
(The full HP Quad-black system (matte black + photo black and 2 levels of gray)
Ink Limit Indicates the total amount of ink the paper can absorb to maximize gamut without causing image-quality problems. This setting is expressed in picoliters (or nanograms) per 1/600th x 1/600th inch paper area (divide by 4 for 1/1200th by 1/1200th inch area). In general, the higher the ink limit, the higher the gamut.
I'm thinking that if the surface of the Fredrix 777 is as "paper-like" as you say, that perhaps experimenting with other surfaces (presets) might be interesting. It seems that just because it's canvas, with the Z3200ps, doesn't mean one is confined to using the canvas preset.
I was going through the list of available profiles while doing soft-proofing just to see what effect different papers had on the image. Very interesting to see how HP Satin - GE Off made it snap in comparison to any canvas paper. I understand that this goes contrary to any conventional wisdom in terms of standard profiling procedures, however, after extensive experimentation with using other paper presets with Lyve, and finding that, for example, HP Litho Realistic Matte works just fine, it causes me to consider that it's just ink being laid down on a surface, and that when "fooling" the printer, by calibrating the paper using the canvas, it doesn't know that it's not for example, HP Everday Satin, or whatever, and once the calibration is completed, (assuming the correct changes to the profile, such as height, cutter off, etc have been made) it is possible to print using the existing ICC profile straight onto the canvas. I may be full of it on this, but it does seem to work, and I plan to experiment more to push the envelope, particularly as HP and the companies manufacturing the media don't provide any comprehensive information about using their products with the Z series printers.
Thanks again for your thoughts and input Ron-
-Mark