CliqueOfOne wrote:
Take a look at the matte print under glass and see how it compares with the straight glossy, then. You might be surprised!
Too often we so-called "photographers" get all hung up in details, to that I plead guilty and I will not be lonely.
Perception is a great fooler, the side by side comparison of cameras, lenses, and in this case papers may be valid, but in two rooms with a pause for coffee and JQPublic will never note the difference. (Never? Sure, I know, but usually). Remember we do not view photos with a 10x lope in our right eye! Minimum of 2" and usually 3' plus. The "cone of vision" viewing angle for home theaters is 15* So using tan calculation the minimum (comfortable, long term) viewing distance for a 10" print is 37". For a wall of our best we stand back 6'. Point being the fine points of excellent paper and on the negative side image flaws do or start to disappear. And yes, I love the close look of special prints like metallic; I too am addicted to that dash of image spice that special papers give (up close and to us fanatics).
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http://www.hometheatrebasics.com/home-theatre-tools/vertical-viewing-angle/Personally, not based on price, I have discovered that Kodak low cost thin, 45#, paper works very well with my Epson NX-305 4 color, after all, the image is viewed not tested for strength. In reality the print is backed or framed in final product so there is no light to show thru (yes, in theory there is).
Shine? CliqueOfOne, me too, I love mat for most of my images. However gloss seems to be very popular, gloss has its universal bright color appeal (perhaps,,, for me, CliqueOfOne, it depends on my mood).
I hung several mounted on stretched canvas prints on the screened porch... with pride. Ooops, humidity here in Florida, paper gained moisture and expanded, canvas did not, Ouch, de-lamination of print from canvas back and warping of the print. Both gloss and mat were a disaster, by nature I think all papers will go crazy in the Florida swamp like humidity.
Solution? (teted successfully) For the Kodak Gloss only, I waxed the surface with two layers of Turtle Wax (solid) to give it that new car shine, really really very high gloss. Repells water well did not warp - - solvent based glue on one side, wax on the other.
Caveat: Allow the print to harden at least overnight. Also pre-mount the print on the primed canvas using 3M General Purpose 45 photo save spray on print and canvas. Elbow grease is needed to defog.
Tried my thick HP gloss paper and it was a disaster, well aged ink came off? Ink did not soak in?
So while you are trying different papers take a junk gloss print and try waxing it to water proof (water beads and rolls off). To test tape the edges to a flat surface.
I have a RedRiver paper free test pack and based on this post, you have peaked my interest to give the spread a good try. Thank you mrjcall for the stimulus and to all for the sharing of experience.... truly the correct spirit of UHH.