Canson is Updating their Edition Rag and Rag Photographique to Use New Coatings!

[1PhotoGuyinNM]

I am not sure if others are aware of this, but Edition Etching Rag and Rag Photographique are being updated using Canson’s new inkjet coating.  Excellent news!  This should bring them more in line with BFK Rives, Aquarelle and Arches 88 and the new Somerset Enhanced line of papers.

This from Canson:

Utilising the latest proprietary inkjet coating, Canson® Infinity Edition Etching Rag II
offers deeper blacks and an extend colour gamut, whilst retaining the aesthetics of the
original paper. Made from 100% cotton, this fine art paper has a soft fine grain texture,
reminiscent of the original genuine etching and printmaking papers. Edition Etching Rag
II has a white tone achieved without the use of artificial Brightening Agents, also called
OBAs.

Produced at the renowned Canson Mill in Annonay, France Edition Etching Rag II offers
a high paper shade stability and a resistance to aging by using natural minerals. The
improved inkjet coating offers a better image performance with a higher black density
and colour gamut.

This museum-grade paper provides deep blacks, excellent image sharpness, optimum
colour graduation and its unique slight grain makes it ideal for printing detailed work,
colour photographs and exceptional black and white portraits.

———

Utilising the latest proprietary inkjet coating, Canson® Infinity Rag Photographique II
offers an improved image performance including excellent black density, exceptional
detail and a rich tonal range, whilst retaining the original aesthetic of the paper.
Produced by the papermakers at the Canson Mill in Annonay, France, Rag
Photographique II is 100% cotton, with a smooth sensual feel to the paper. The paper is
museum grade and contains no artificial brightening agents.

This museum grade paper offers deep blacks, excellent image sharpness and detail,
optimum colour graduation and its smooth matt surface is ideal photographers, artists
and printmakers that are looking to produce colour or black & white art reproductions.

[Ernst Dinkla]

Wonder whether the coating process is still done by Felix Schoeller in Germany.

Ernst, op de lei getypt.

[Richard.Wills]

Does anyone else do coating for the art papers?

This will add to the fun of running editions for customers - subtle difference in weight, and white point - will need to make two sets of new profiles - one to take advantage of the new coating, and one device link to the older version...

[Ernst Dinkla]

Sihl used to do the coating process for Hahnemuehle, probably still does. At least for the typical HM art papers. In general there are more paper base manufacturers than there are coating companies that can deliver quality inkjet coatings on rag papers. The Ilford plant in Swiss no longer exists. In the USA it will be worse, Japan relies on Mitsubishi and FujiFim I guess. China might have some facilities meanwhile.

Ernst, op de lei getypt.

[Ernst Dinkla]

This will add to the fun of running editions for customers - subtle difference in weight, and white point - will need to make two sets of new profiles - one to take advantage of the new coating, and one device link to the older version...
[/quote]

Often the differences are subtle and not as severe as a switch to another printer model/brand/ink but consistency in coating quality can not be praised enough IMHO.

Ernst, op de lei getypt

[mac_paolo]

I was looking for reviews of the new generation of papers, especially the Edition Etching, and found none.
I then decided to download the ICC for my specific printer (Epson P900) and discovered two things:

• the gamut is incredibly smaller
• the shape is distorted, like when you have issues with the ICC (that at least in the Apple ColorSync Utility)

Did anyone manage to try those new upgraded coatings?
Thank you in advance.

[Richard.Wills]

The rolls I'm getting from the UK distributor are still original version (Or they've not labeled them as V2, as they have with Prestige Baryta II).

[mac_paolo]

The rolls I'm getting from the UK distributor are still original version (Or they've not labeled them as V2, as they have with Prestige Baryta II).

The second version has different identification numbers. I'm quite sure if they don't label it as version II, it's still version I.
The store I was trying to buy from has both versions. The older is discounted for BF, the latter is not.

[Gryphon69]

A while ago Canson mailed me two sheets of Rag Photo II to try out, so I have printed a standard test print on the P5370 to compare it with Rag Photo I (although my go-to matte paper is Arches 88).
I have also made a quick and dirty and I’m afraid kind of unscientific comparison between the Canson stock profiles for the P5370 for Rag Photo I and Rag Photo II in ColorSync (unfortunately I don’t have ColorThink) and it would appear that RP II has meaningfully broader gamut than RP I, particularly in the reds, oranges and greens, and a better black point. Sorry, I am not sure how to attach a picture of the comparison.
I have also compared the Canson-provided P5370 profile for RP II with the one for Arches 88 and they appear to be very close in terms of gamut, with RP II being just a bit broader on darker colors across the spectrum and having a slightly better black point and Arches 88 being a bit broader with lighter colors across the spectrum.
From a real-world perspective, TBH my very limited test only revealed minor differences between RP I and RP II, mostly in the greens and in oranges.

[NeilPrintArt]

Innova, based in the UK, are one of the few paper manufacturers who coat their own media. Well,that's my understanding anyway