Favorite Current Inkjet Papers (Oct 09)

[nightfly]

What are your favorite inkjet papers currently? I'm looking for something neutral for both black and white and color printing on an Epson 3800 that come in 17 x 22.

I tested some of the Ilford Gold Fibre Silk which is nice but a tad warm. Looking to test one or two more before I settle on one for an exhibition coming up. Anyone used the Epson Exhibition paper? Others? Would like neutral to cold toned black and white and nice colors with some pop to them. Might have to go with two papers, one for black and white, one for color but would like to avoid. Generally I like something like that looks like the traditional semi-glossy fiber papers (everyone seems to have a different name for this finish).

[KEH]

Having used Epson and now (happily) using an HP B9180, I would say that some papers work better with some printers. The Ilford Gold Fibre Silk works well on both (for semigloss work).

I tend to favour matte papers, and absolutely love the Moab Kayenta on the B9180. The fine art equivalent would be Moab Entrada Bright While - haven't tried it, but the Natural is pretty good.

Again, there is probably no substitute for spending a bunch of money on a few likely papers and seeing what works for you on the Epson.

Kirk

[eleskin]

I bought a new Epson 3800 2 months ago and started using Epson Exhibition Fiber Glossy and I can tell you this stuff really is like fiber wet darkroom prints! I have been in the darkroom since 1988 and I can testify to this. You will only want to use this and nothing else!

Buy form sources like ATLEX.COM for really good prices, especially the 17"x22" paper which is $109.00 for 25 sheets (others are $149.00 or so).

[eleskin]

Yes!!!!

It Is Tremendous For Color And Black And White. A True One Paper Solution!!!

I Love This Stuff X 100000%%%%%%

[snausages]

Haven't done enough prints to know for sure, but initial results with 13 x 19 Innova FibaPrint Ultra Smooth Gloss have been excellent.

[drew.saunders]

I tried the Harmon FB AL on a 2880 and it's my favorite "good print" paper now (where the Epson Lustre is my standard print paper, but I'll probably try the Freestyle lustre equivalent for that purpose next). I've compared prints from the FB AL to chemical prints on Ilford FB MG from the same negative and they look very similar. You might find it a bit warm, but I've not tried the Gold Fibre Silk, so I can't compare. It's worth getting a 5-pack of 8.5x11 to test.

[benmacphoto]

Hahnemuhle makes some great papers such as Fineart Pearl and Phot Rag Pearl. They have a nice surface and from what I have printed are very neutral. It's a shame you find the Ilford Fiber to warm, that paper has such a nice surface for black and white printing.

I like some of Epsons papers, but found them to either be to warm or I didn't like the surface of the paper.

[nightfly]

I do like the Ilford. Just wanted to try one or two more to see what else is out there before I settle on one. Not sure it's too warm, just a little warm. I saw a print on the Epson stuff at B and H that looked nice to my eyes but it is a lot more expensive than the the Ilford.

[benmacphoto]

I tested both the Epson and the Ilford and found that the the surface was nicer and smoother on the Ilford paper. IMHO the Ilford fiber is better to use for an exhibition than the Epson. The only problem I found with the Ilford paper was printing on a 7880 the print head spacing had to be adjusted otherwise there would be white lines on the print.

Both papers handled tones very well, but what came down to me was how much nicer the surface was on the Ilford paper. The way light hits it in the deep blacks it shows very nice detail. Epson, not so much.

But check out the Hahnemuhle papers if you have time, because they make some great exhibition papers. They have trial packs of the paper last time I checked.

[mfunnell]

I like the Harman FB AL for B&W with a more gloss surface, but at the moment I mostly prefer matte for B&W (Innova Smooth Cotton or Hahnemuehle Photo Rag). I also like the Harman for colour, so that would be my "one paper" solution. But in practice I've been using Crane Museo Silver Rag, Ilford Gallerie Smooth (or sometimes Perl) and Hahnemuehle Museum Etching (matte) for most colour stuff, depending on the what look I'm after and what best suits the photo. [All with a Canon Pro9500.]

...Mike

[januaryman]

How are the Moab papers? I was thinking of using their Lasal Archival matte for normal stuff. I'm goin to be trying the A4, hard to find that size in the States.

[gnuyork]

The Hahnemhule fine art baryta is the best I've used, but I do like the Ilford Gold Fibre as well. I ended up printing most of my 40 image show on the Ilford because it was a lot less expensive than the Hahnemhule. The majority of the show was B&W but the few color images I did I used the Hahnemhule. A little more neutral for the color images. The Ilford is a tad warm, but I like it for B&W.

I also sampled the Epson Exhibition paper and liked it, and at the time it was expensive, but I just ordered 7 packs of it from Atlex about a month ago because they had it on sale at a huge discount.

I want to add that i use these papers with the Epson R2400. All with excellent results.

[dmr]

Originally Posted by KEH

Having used Epson and now (happily) using an HP B9180, I would say that some papers work better with some printers. The Ilford Gold Fibre Silk works well on both (for semigloss work).

I also have the 9180 and it seems like I get the best results with various Ilford papers and, surprisingly, house-brand Office Depot papers.

Canon and Genuine HP<tm> papers are OK.

I've had semi-crummy results with Inkpress papers, but maybe I'm not using the correct profiles or something ...

[donmcmahan]

Originally Posted by gnuyork

The Hahnemhule fine art baryta is the best I've used,

The baryta paper is great stuff but very expensive . a more affordable paper that I am a big fan of is Innova IFA 49
for a matte paper Sommerset Enhanced is hard to beat

[Frank Petronio]

Harman FB AL Gloss for prints I sell or display and Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl for freebies and sleeved portfolio prints.

I use the Quadtone RIP on an older Epson 2200 and it still looks great, although I am sure the 3800 does a little better.

[dcsang]

I have heard good things about Epson Exhibition and intend on picking up a set of 8.5x11 to try and then, maybe, going to 17x22 - but I rarely print that size - I'm not really a landscape photographer so 16x20 3/4 portraits are a bit "big" nowadays

That said, I do like the Ilford papers for "pearl" prints - they seem to be pretty close to the RC style papers.

I'm looking for a good matte paper but I'm not sure if I really like the Epson Velvet Fine art that I have.. I print more B&W than I do colour.

Cheers,
Dave