Paper recommendation please

[RalphLambrecht]

when working in the darkroom, I liked the look and feel of Ilford MGIV glossy airdried.Is there anythink similar in inkjet papers?thanks in advance.

 

[jeffreyg]

I've gotten nice results with Epson Exhibition Fiber Paper (F surface) and Innova Fibaprint white Gloss (f type). There are a lot of papers out there so as usual it boils down to one's preference. Epson has a "Signature Worthy" sample pack that has 14 sheets of their premium papers that might be the best way to try them out without committing to a full package of any one. I too have favored the Ilford MGIV fiber paper and do most of my printing in a wet dr. I also like the Hahnemuhle Photo Rag smooth surface for a matte finish paper. I'm sure you will get many different recommendations as well and I wouldn't be surprised if some companies get their paper from generic coating companies and package them as having produced them all the while being identical to some of their competitors.

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[L Gebhardt]

Canson Platine Fiber Rag is great if you want a paper without optical brighteners. The Epson fiber paper is also very nice, but it has brighteners.

 

[jeffreyg]

Since my last suggestion several months ago I tried Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta 100% Cotton White high-gloss paper. It has a beautiful slight luster surface to my eyes. This has become my first choice for serious digital prints. I am printing from predominately scanned Delta 400 (120) and HP5 (4x5) negatives. I edit in PS 5 and/or On1-10. Once I have the image (RGB) I switch to gray scale, correct as desired, switch back to RGB and then with PhotoKit add a layer of #2 sepia tone @ 60% and a layer of brown tone @ 30% and print with my Epson 3880 set at the Ultrapremium Luster default 16bit 1440dpi. At least to my eyes the results are a beautiful neutral to slightly warm B&W very close to the Ilford Multigrade FB but just a little bit warmer.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[jeffreyg]

Since my last suggestion several months ago I tried Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta 100% Cotton White high-gloss paper. It has a beautiful slight luster surface to my eyes. This has become my first choice for serious digital prints. I am printing from predominately scanned Delta 400 (120) and HP5 (4x5) negatives. I edit in PS 5 and/or On1-10. Once I have the image (RGB) I switch to gray scale, correct as desired, switch back to RGB and then with PhotoKit add a layer of #2 sepia tone @ 60% and a layer of brown tone @ 30% and print with my Epson 3880 set at the Ultrapremium Luster default 16bit 1440dpi. At least to my eyes the results are a beautiful neutral to slightly warm B&W very close to the Ilford Multigrade FB but just a little bit warmer.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Canson Platine Fiber Rag is great if you want a paper without optical brighteners. The Epson fiber paper is also very nice, but it has brighteners.

I don't mind optical brighteners. many darkroom papers have them as well.

 

[BMbikerider]

As good as they are, I personally think that Inkjet papers which have a glossy surface have a long way to go before they equal traditional silver based papers used in a darkroom. What I find is, where there are areas with little tone because very minute quantities of dye/ink is deposited, they remain very glossy indeed. Whereas areas where there is a heavy deposit they assume a semi gloss appearance, which does get better as the ink/dye completely dries but the difference is still noticable. The effect as described above is not so noticable on surfaces with even a fine a texture but it is still there.

Because silver based traditional paper where the different tones are 'inside' the emulson and not merely on the surface, the gloss finish remains prestine. Even MG1V resin coated glossy cannot even come close to fibre based glossy paper that has undergone hot glazing on a heated flatbed or rotary drum. That finish remains at the top of the pile as far as glossy finish is concerned.