Red River Paper Question: I currently have an Epson R3000 printer, have had several previous models as well. I have been using Epson Glossy and Luster papers, for the most part, for...

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I currently have an Epson R3000 printer, have had several previous models as well. I have been using Epson Glossy and Luster papers, for the most part, for many years. I am interested in trying out papers from Red River and am seeking advice on how others may like them as well as the types that others may use. I can see that they are slightly less expensive than the OEM brand, but are they as good? Better? Thanks in advance.

Nikonhermit Loc: In This Place

cjc2 wrote:

I currently have an Epson R3000 printer, have had several previous models as well. I have been using Epson Glossy and Luster papers, for the most part, for many years. I am interested in trying out papers from Red River and am seeking advice on how others may like them as well as the types that others may use. I can see that they are slightly less expensive than the OEM brand, but are they as good? Better? Thanks in advance.

They are excellent.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Nikonhermit wrote:

They are excellent.

Indeed. A good way to experiment is with the sample pack. I found some I like and continue to order. Polar Pearl metallic and River linen are some of my favorites but you'll find your own.

Michael Hartley Loc: Deer Capital of Georgia

I like em'. I print for dollars. Get a sample pack, and give them a try. I do all my B&W on polar pearl metallic now.

David Kay Loc: Arlington Heights IL

Michael Hartley wrote:

I like em'. I print for dollars. Get a sample pack, and give them a try. I do all my B&W on polar pearl metallic now.

I use Red River paper about 90% of the time. Get their Sample pack, Pick a photo you like that has a lot of color to it. Print that photo on each of the samples so you are comparing apples to apples and you can then see how each of their papers perform to that photo.

For B&W I use their Arctic polar Luster. Love it.

malawibob Loc: South Carolina

I use Red River ultra glo gloss plus and am real happy with it.

cheineck Loc: Hobe Sound, FL

Great products!!!

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

I mostly use the Red River UP Gloss and am very pleased with it. The sample pack for a couple of $$ is the way to start, but be sure to download their ICC color profiles before you use them.

The thing I don't like about many of the off brand papers, Kirkland for example, is that they don't give you any profiles or info on settings on the box so why save a few bucks and not know what you are getting.

RRRoger Loc: Monterey Bay, California

They have been way better than other papers for years, but I think OEM is catching up.

I use Red River Ultra Pro Gloss and genuine Epson Archival Ink to print the pictures on my Event Placards. They have held up well to Sun, Dirt, and Rain.
Some are over 10 years old.

Superman6869 Loc: Iowa

Love the polar metallic

WAL

Be sure to down load and install the profiles for the papers you are using. Your printer will only have profiles for Epson paper. The profiles should be on the Red River site. W/O the profiles you will be dealing with a variable that will make printing more confusing than it already is.

I find the various papers interesting. It can create problems. The printer manufactures want you to use their papers and inks. It is part of their business model. Enjoy.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

WAL wrote:

Be sure to down load and install the profiles for the papers you are using. Your printer will only have profiles for Epson paper. The profiles should be on the Red River site. W/O the profiles you will be dealing with a variable that will make printing more confusing than it already is.

I find the various papers interesting. It can create problems. The printer manufactures want you to use their papers and inks. It is part of their business model. Enjoy.

Good point. Red river profiles work great, are easy to install and use. Good card templates for LR too.

Don Fischer Loc: Antelope, Ore

I started using Ultra Pro Satin some time back and love it. I've still got Canon 13x19 and 4x6, Inkpress 11x17, and a few other's. once thry are gone, they are gone. Really like the Red River paper!

Pkfish Loc: Wilson Wy

I use Epson ink and some of their paper , but mostly I use Red River because I like it better not because it's cheaper.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

slightly, but only slightly off topic.
I also print with an Epson printer, during an event, my lovely bride of 30 years, ran to Staples to get more paper. We had sold almost twice the average for that day. All she could get was Staples paper. It looked pretty good. Went home and did test prints, and everyone that looked at the samples picked the Staples paper prints over the ones done on Epson papers. Long story short, OEM is not always the be all and end all.

Paper does make a difference, tried to print on some old HP paper that I had sitting around, still wasn't dry after several minutes, a day later, I could still smudge it. Not so on Epson (or Staples) paper. I've even heard that whatever brand Costco sells is excellent. Haven't tried it.