EDU.Ultra Pearl vs. Semi-matte

I need some paper but my usual EDU.Ultra glossy is out of stock at freestyle. I actually prize the gloss finish of this paper--I like how it's smooth (good for contact printing/masking/scanning, high perceived resolution) but it's not wet-glossy looking, and thus glare-prone, like Illford glossy.

So it looks like I'm trying some Pearl or Semi-Matte this time. Since these names/descriptions are far from obvious to me, can someone describe them? Which one would you say is closest to glossy?

I called in to Freestyle today to order paper and the gal talked me into trying Arista Premium. Have you tried that?
Dennis

There is no Arista Premium paper. Where you thinking of Arista Private Reserve? They are sold out of that in glossy too.

EDU Ultra is supposed to be Fomaspeed Variant III, although I haven't cracked open my box yet to compare. Foma doesn't describe finishes the same way, so I've been assuming that Pearl = Foma's Velvet and Semi-Matte = Foma's Matte. And I love Foma's Matte. Very similar to Ilford's Satin finish, if that helps you visualize.

BetterSense said:

There is no Arista Premium paper. Where you thinking of Arista Private Reserve? They are sold out of that in glossy too.

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Right, I meant private reserve.
Dennis

I love the surface of the pearl, and if the glossy look is what you like, it's a lot glossier than the semi-matte.. I have some of the FB EDU.Ultra in semi-matte and I can't say I love it. Pretty weak blacks, prints tend to look flat..

That's pretty much what you can expect from any semi-matte paper. The apparently weak black look is a result of the reflective qualities of the paper's surface, not an inherent weakness of the paper's Dmax. I like it for formal portraits, and not much else; but in that application it looks really nice.

fschifano said:

That's pretty much what you can expect from any semi-matte paper. The apparently weak black look is a result of the reflective qualities of the paper's surface, not an inherent weakness of the paper's Dmax. I like it for formal portraits, and not much else; but in that application it looks really nice.

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True, I wasn't printing portraits with it and was disappointed but I can see it working well for that application.