Pages: 1 [2]   Go Down

Author Topic: What is an equivilent or better paper than BC Pura/Elegance Velvet?  (Read 5479 times)

dchew

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1020
    • Dave Chew Photography
Re: What is an equivilent or better paper than BC Pura/Elegance Velvet?
« Reply #20 on: January 12, 2015, 02:11:53 pm »

Yeah it's pretty hard to get a representative photo of all the papers without some controlled studio setup, which I don't have the tools to do. I mentioned I have two sample packs that were obtained at different times. I pulled out the Rives and Arches Aquarelle from each and they look the same, so it must be either the way I held them to the light or a change in the paper. I did hold them at an angle that would highlight the texture as much as possible. The Arches Aquarelle has the roughest feel of all the papers in my sample pack (not that I think it has a bad feel; just relative to the other papers).

Dave
Logged

Mark Lindquist

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1596
  • it’s not about the photos we take - it’s the ones we leave
    • LINDQUIST STUDIOS
Re: What is an equivilent or better paper than BC Pura/Elegance Velvet?
« Reply #21 on: January 12, 2015, 08:00:44 pm »

I've been printing on the Aquarelle, finding what images work best on it, and I have to say it is growing on me.  The gamut is very good, it can take all the ink I can throw at it, and it creayes the deepest richest blacks I think I have ever seen.

I made a custom profile using the Quad ink base - Fine Art - More Ink and it seems just right.

Looking forward to the BFK - that should be an interesting comparison. 

With the Aquarelle, I'm finding you do get what you pay for.

I really don't mind paying even a lot more if it is worth it.

Logged
Mark Lindquist
http://z3200.com, http://MarkLindquistPhotography.com
Lindquist Studios.com

bill t.

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3011
    • http://www.unit16.net
Re: What is an equivilent or better paper than BC Pura/Elegance Velvet?
« Reply #22 on: January 12, 2015, 09:57:17 pm »

I really don't mind paying even a lot more if it is worth it.

Especially if the % yield of flawless media is good.  It took me a while to appreciate how much certain 'budget" media were costing me in terms of discards, reprints, and time wasted.  Budget media only makes sense if you are willing to accept flaws in production prints, or if you are early in the learning stages of printing, or if you are using it in a period when QC happens to be good (don't count on that to last).
Logged

Mark Lindquist

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1596
  • it’s not about the photos we take - it’s the ones we leave
    • LINDQUIST STUDIOS
Re: What is an equivilent or better paper than BC Pura/Elegance Velvet?
« Reply #23 on: January 12, 2015, 10:36:48 pm »

Ain't that the truth!  If BFK Rives is as bullet proof as the Aquarelle, then I'll be very pleased.

And so far, no flecking of any kind.  Flecking sucks.

I used to use Arches a lomg time ago when I was doing serious drawing, etc., and it was the best back then.

No one has said there is anything better....

If there is, I'd like to know, LOL.
Logged
Mark Lindquist
http://z3200.com, http://MarkLindquistPhotography.com
Lindquist Studios.com

Mark Lindquist

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1596
  • it’s not about the photos we take - it’s the ones we leave
    • LINDQUIST STUDIOS
Re: What is an equivilent or better paper than BC Pura/Elegance Velvet?
« Reply #24 on: January 12, 2015, 10:48:41 pm »

Dave - interestingly, the Rives sample in your image looks as if it may have slightly more texture than the one in my swatch book, though it's very dependent on the rake of the lighting so it's hard to be certain. My sample swatches are a few years old now, so that may be a contributory factor.

Mark - sorry if I misled you at all on the differences between the Velin and the Rives in consequence. Here's the description for BFK Rives from Canson's site:

The world’s number one mould-made traditional printmaking paper, with more than 500 years of history and heritage is now available within the Canson Infinity Digital Fine Art & Photo Portfolio. B F K Rives has a unique pure white tone obtained without the use of OBAs and a very specific smooth and velvety texture.

This exceptional paper is ideal for fine art prints and photographs and gives them a very prestigious aura.


Product Features & Benefits
• 100% Rag
• Mould-Made: the finest and oldest paper-making technic
• Compatible with pigmented and dye inks
• Dries instantly
• Water resistant
• No Optical Brightening Agents to ensure consistency of shades for generations
• Designed to meet galleries and museum longevity requirements and respect the ISO 9706 standard:
        - Internally buffered to resist gas fading and maximise the conservation of your prints
        - Acid Free certified to avoid paper degradation


You can download the full spec sheet from http://www.canson-infinity.com/en/iso_album/bfk-rives.pdf

Longevity is rated as:
HP Vivera: >150 years
Canon Lucia: 116 years
Epson Ultrachrome K3: 72 years

Cheers,

Malcolm

p.s. I see Bill T. has just posted a similar observation on texture variations between different samples of the same paper, so any confusion may not be entirely my fault!

Malcom, I'm looking forward to using all three- the Aquarelle, Velin and Rives.  I think these three will cover nicely what I need for this project.  I'm getting pretty good at sheet loading, so this works out well for me.

Knowing that the artists you print for, demand this quality is helpful to know.

Finding just the right media is certainly a paper chase....

-Mark
Logged
Mark Lindquist
http://z3200.com, http://MarkLindquistPhotography.com
Lindquist Studios.com

bill t.

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3011
    • http://www.unit16.net
Re: What is an equivilent or better paper than BC Pura/Elegance Velvet?
« Reply #25 on: January 12, 2015, 10:54:05 pm »

My pastelist wife uses 30 x 44 Arches sheets that I glue to Gator before she starts a piece.  Makes the impossible task of framing pastels slightly easier.  It's a lot coarser than the stuff in my inkjet sample pack.  Have been mainly following this post with an eye-out towards giclees on fine art paper, which we are now doing on fine textured canvas that somewhat belies the originals.

Another thing is how well media goes through the printer without irritating problems like edge curl, head swipes, etc.  I've been leaning toward rather thin media that can be firmly held in place beneath the printheads, even at my 6000 foot altitude where "Strongest" suction is more like "Medium" at sea level.  In the best of all possible printing worlds neither printer nor media will ever create glitches in production.

Logged

Mark Lindquist

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1596
  • it’s not about the photos we take - it’s the ones we leave
    • LINDQUIST STUDIOS
Re: What is an equivilent or better paper than BC Pura/Elegance Velvet?
« Reply #26 on: January 12, 2015, 11:01:48 pm »

Of course, I like the heavier weight paper, and I especially like it that these particular papers lay flat.

It's an impressive thing to hold in the hand, by the margins, etc.,
and to be able to move the print into different light. 

Logged
Mark Lindquist
http://z3200.com, http://MarkLindquistPhotography.com
Lindquist Studios.com
Pages: 1 [2]   Go Up