What's the best paper for your ink-jet printer to use to print photographs?
Dec 10, 2017 12:48:04 #
Gene51 wrote:
You usually get the best results with the least am... (show quote)
Really, Gene? ... I hadn't realized Printer Drivers were that intelligent ....
Baryta, huh? ... Will look that one up, too ... thanks ....
Dec 10, 2017 12:51:02 #
Wanda Krack wrote:
I choose the paper type according to the image. Some print better on mat, some on glossy, some on metallic and some on semi-gloss or luster, linen, canvas, or rag. Red River has a beautiful pearl metallic paper. I use both Red River and Epson papers (have an Epson printer). The above suggestion of obtaining a variety of papers to start with is a good one. It took me a while to decide which type of image I prefer on which type of paper.
Thanks for your input, Wanda ...
When you use that Red River pearl metallic paper ... what kind of images do you normally print on it?
Dec 10, 2017 12:53:43 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Do you mean glossy vs matte? For me, it depends, but I like glossy. As others have said, it's best to use the paper made by the printer maker.
Oh, okay, Jerry ... I'll look around for a Hammermill, Baryta, or Red River inkjet printer, then ... didn't realize there were any ....
Dec 10, 2017 13:03:14 #
Dec 10, 2017 13:04:29 #
whwiden wrote:
A glossy paper tends to appear sharper than a matt... (show quote)
Oh, okay, WH ... so, for archival use, then - you'd recommend flat (or matte) papers, then ....
But, for non-archival use ... and for better contrast ... you'd go with glossy papers, then ... did I read you right, WH?
Dec 10, 2017 13:08:50 #
The Watcher wrote:
Why so much paper talk when you don't even know what printer the OP has?
It's an Epson WorkForce 845, Watcher .... (my main color inkjet, anyway) ... but I also have a couple of monochrome lasers (Okidata, NEC) ...
Oh, and there's also an HP ink-jet on top of the big laser ... oh, yes, and a couple of Lexmark ink-jets, kicking around somewhere ... oh, THERE they are!
Dec 10, 2017 13:18:20 #
"Really, Gene? ... I hadn't realized Printer Drivers were that intelligent ...."
Its not that printer driver are that intelligent, its that getting involved with third party papers (and I use many of them) requires getting involved with ICC profiles and configuring the driver to use third party profiles. Using Canon paper in a Canon printer, for example, simply requires choosing the paper. Much better for the beginner to simply choose paper type and limit the experimenting to that.
Its not that printer driver are that intelligent, its that getting involved with third party papers (and I use many of them) requires getting involved with ICC profiles and configuring the driver to use third party profiles. Using Canon paper in a Canon printer, for example, simply requires choosing the paper. Much better for the beginner to simply choose paper type and limit the experimenting to that.
Dec 10, 2017 14:03:29 #
Jrhoffman75 wrote:
Not Hammermill. Hahnemuehle.
Third party papers require downloading and installing ICC profiles to get the best quality. Since you are experimenting I suggest you use the paper from your printer manufacturer first.
You basically have gloss, semigloss and matte surfaces. Canon has a variation on those - there is a Platinum paper that is very glossy compared to some of their other glossy papers. Also a semigloss and Luster, which have slight difference in surface texture.
Third party papers require downloading and installing ICC profiles to get the best quality. Since you are experimenting I suggest you use the paper from your printer manufacturer first.
You basically have gloss, semigloss and matte surfaces. Canon has a variation on those - there is a Platinum paper that is very glossy compared to some of their other glossy papers. Also a semigloss and Luster, which have slight difference in surface texture.
Used to have a Canon Bubble-jet, JR ... traded it in on that Epson Workforce 845 I mentioned ....
That flip up design of theirs - meant it was never sealed ... so, there were always large openings ... which the mice saw as welcome signs!!!!
Put up with it for a while, but, whenever I used it, again ... the fresh ink smell combined with the overlarge openings ... well - you see the problem!
The Epson units - particularly, the double-drawer ones, like the WF 845, are sealed shut, when static ....
Will Canon papers work well with an Epson Inkjet, though? ... Or, are they designed more for Bubble-jets?
Dec 10, 2017 14:12:05 #
Jrhoffman75 wrote:
"Really, Gene? ... I hadn't realized Printer ... (show quote)
Oh, okay, then, JR ... good advice for the beginners out there, then ....
Me? ... I've been using computers and associated printers since 1978!!!!
Wow!!! ... 40 years, huh? ... I'll have to brush up my "beginner" togs ....
Dec 10, 2017 14:20:03 #
Chris T wrote:
Oh, okay, WH ... so, for archival use, then - you'd recommend flat (or matte) papers, then ....
But, for non-archival use ... and for better contrast ... you'd go with glossy papers, then ... did I read you right, WH?
But, for non-archival use ... and for better contrast ... you'd go with glossy papers, then ... did I read you right, WH?
For archival, you need to be using appropriate inks. For the matte papers, some are reported to be better than others for archival purposes. My understanding is that a paper that uses an optical brightener will not tend to be as good for archival purposes. You need to research the particular paper for these qualities. For matte, Canson rag photographique and aquarelle are both archival if memory serves. Baryta papers are a semi-gloss paper that can be nice looking. I have seen a number of museums use ilford papers like gold mono silk for permanent exhibitions so I assume they have decent archival properties but I have not researched this.
I do not generally like the look of glossy papers so I do not use them very often. If I do not want to use matte, for deeper blacks and enhanced sharpness, I use a baryta paper.
Dec 10, 2017 14:28:55 #
JohnSwanda wrote:
I have an Epson printer, and my favorite paper is their Epson Fiber Exhibition Paper. It has a very similar look and feel to the old air dried B&W double weight glossy fiber darkroom paper I used to use.
Not like RC, though, is it, John ...
Does it come in reams, or just 10-sheet packs, though?
Dec 10, 2017 15:30:07 #
Dec 10, 2017 22:51:06 #
Jrhoffman75 wrote:
I started with an Apple II.
Yeah, JR ... me, too ... selling them, at any rate ...
My first PC was a TRS/80 ... then I switched to Commodore ... Vic-20, C-64, C-128 .... still got them all, too ...
Then, when Commodore started making IBM PC / XT clones ... the tail was on the other end ...
Still have an original Commodore XT ... AND a Commodore AT, as well ....
After that, started building them from scratch, myself ... must be at least a dozen home-brews, around here, JR ....
Dec 10, 2017 23:10:33 #
whwiden wrote:
For archival, you need to be using appropriate ink... (show quote)
Ilford Gold Mono Silk, WH?
But that's an emulsion paper, isn't it?
Dec 11, 2017 02:31:44 #
Chris T wrote:
Some are coated ... others are flat ... which kind offers the best detail and contrast?
It all depends on the images one wants to print, and what you prefer for that certain image. Do you want some texture, do you want the blacks to show in a certain way, luster, gloss, or matte, etc., etc? The list goes on and on. There is no best paper for all, there is only the best paper for a particular picture!
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