Choice of paper surface

In terms of paper surfaces, I’m picking up preferences on APUG for fibre base over RC and various other types of paper, dependent on individual taste. On a recent thread about sunlight yellowing paper I suggested a high res scan of a darkroom print to then be inkjet printed on archival paper. I would like to further this consideration by my own experience with paper surfaces and what is achievable. For instance my Van Dyke Browns are made on Archers Hot Press paper that has good wet strength, making it great for processing chemistry. However, by making high res scans of these prints and then printing as archival inkjet, I have some superb paper surfaces to choose from, for instance Somerset Velvet, which (in my opinion) makes them look better than the originals. In short, what I am advocating is that making a jump to digital technology after you have made your finely crafted darkroom print allows greater choice of paper surface combined with archival permanence.

If you are doing alt-process you have a ton of paper choice and don't need to make things more complicated with additional steps if you're interested in keeping it low-tech and hands on. Stonehenge. Arches Platine, etc...

Dear Cliveh,

Of course you have many substrate options to print on inkjet, that is a real bonus, the real negative is that they are not archival or even stable, far better like jp498 says use an alt process.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

A PUG...

Good questions for our sister site, DPUG.