Hi Ernst,
Based on your comments I bought a roll of the Epson Proofing White Semimatte Inkjet Paper. I have only run a few prints through it but I have to say I agree that it seems to be a very special paper at the price point. Color reproduction, gamut, and gloss differential all seem very good. I love the level of gloss that reminds me of a good magazine. I have been looking for a high quality, low cost paper that will let me print photo books with better results and a lower price to something like Blurb and this seems to fit the bill. In the US you can buy a 17"x100' roll for just $65.95 including delivery. It isn't going to replace Canson Platine for my portfolio prints but it is definitely going to find a place in my workflow. Thanks for pointing it out. The lack of OBA's is a positive. I wonder if there has been any testing on its archival qualities?
Paul
Paul,
Two test results at Aardenburg-Imaging.com. ID 309 and 310. One with the Epson K3 pigment inks (with the weaker yellow than more recent pigment inks have) and one with the Canon Chromalife 100+ dye ink. The paper white did not shift in 80 megalux hours exposure, still at 100 I* Color.
Archival is a vague term. At least it shows good paper white longevity and pigment ink shows good longevity too on it. It has polyethylene barriers in the paper construction which some see as a risk and I give the benefit of doubt as there has not been good mechanical and degradation testing done on any of the modern composite papers, whether resin coated or the ones with polyethylene barriers. We coin both as RC papers but I was corrected some years ago by a Sihl paper guru that there is a distinction between the two.
I still contribute to that confusion. In SpectrumViz the RC paper map contains the PE barrier types, I split the papers with hot water etc to see what the layers contain and put the resin types in the Ordinary paper map, quality is lower anyway. I keep the RC name for the PE papers as it is more generally used for that kind of papers.
BTW, Epson advertised the high gamut of several pigment printers and measured target prints on the PPWSM for that claim, a paper that normally is not used outside prepress proofing shops. A high gamut makes it easier to get similar printing results in inkjet as possible in other printing technologies like offset printing. A job done with a device link profile or the more elaborate two profiles route. An inkjet paper that does not overlap the gamut of the offset print can never simulate the last in color. So that is the reason why this paper has a high gamut. There is a long discussion on proofing papers whether they should contain OBAs or not as many offset papers contain OBAs as well. The choices of spectrometer models and modes reflect that discussion. I came across this paper several years ago as I was checking which RC papers did not contain OBAs, the PPWSM is one of just a few and has the highest white point and a pretty regular spectral reflection compared to the other ones. Its weight is nice. According to Mark there is a bit of OBA in the base as I recall it correctly, the spectral plot drops below 400NM which could indicate that but I do not see the blue emission of fluorescence. I thought it was more the result of TiO2 as a whitening agent, maybe both contribute to that drop. The one thing that users might object too is the kind of egg white skin gloss, I have some difficulty with that too but you seem to like it.
Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst
http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htmMarch 2017 update, 750+ inkjet media white spectral plots
