Paper Surfaces?

[oxcanary]

I’m interested in everybody favourite paper surfaces. For years I have used glossy, but am increasingly drawn to the look of Pearl and Satin prints. What do you all favour? Do you stick with a favourite, or do some prints ask for the use of a different surface according to their content? Or do you operate a rule assigning certain types of picture to certain surfaces?

Thanks

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

It depends on the paper type and subject. For RC papers, I like Pearl surface and gloss for FB.
For a female portrait, I might choose a semi-matt surface.
Those who like to add colouring might choose a Matt surface.

 

[miha]

FB Matt for me.

 

[koraks]

What do you all favour?

It varies. Currently I prefer glossy for color and FB b&w for the most part. But sometimes silk for color is also nice, or matte for b&w FB. My carbon prints are a kind of lustre.

 

[Don_ih]

I really like the surface of Art300 paper. It's not for photos where sharpness matters, though.

Kodak used to make many interesting paper surfaces. That'll never happen again.

I like Foma's matt paper better than Ilford's. I don't really like glossy rc papers but glossy fb ones are nice. I like all fb paper surfaces more if the print is mounted.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Fiber-based matte or semi-matte in general.

I find the decision between warm tone and neutral tone much more difficult to make than between matt and glossy. For some photos I have to make a work print on both WT and NT, and look at them for a long time before I can make a decision.

 

[bdial]

In general , for Ilford RC, I like satin. For FB I like glossy, air dried.
But much depends on the picture.

 

[Milpool]

Matte and glossy, although current glossy papers are mostly too glossy for me. I’ve never liked any of the other surfaces (“pearl”, “satin” etc.).

 

[JPD]

Glossy most of the time for prints you hold in your hand or for albums, and matte for reducing reflections of framed prints. Semi-matte and satin is nice for portraits.

I don't remember what it was called, the ugly surface with tiny embossed evenly-spaced round dots. Who used that, and why?

 

[Pieter12]

Glossy most of the time for prints you hold in your hand or for albums, and matte for reducing reflections of framed prints. Semi-matte and satin is nice for portraits.

I don't remember what it was called, the ugly surface with tiny embossed evenly-spaced round dots. Who used that, and why?

Pebble finish?

 

[koraks]

the ugly surface with tiny embossed evenly-spaced round dots

On color paper that's "silk" finish. Possibly it's also used for a similar finish on B&W RC paper.

 

[JPD]

Pebble finish?

On color paper that's "silk" finish. Possibly it's also used for a similar finish on B&W RC paper.

Without having a print with that texture I made a simple illustration. The embossed dots are of course much smaller in real life:

 

[koraks]

The embossed dots are of course much smaller in real life:

Yes, that's it. That's "silk".

 

[JPD]

Yes, that's it. That's "silk".

That's probably it. They should have called it "table tennis racket" instead of "silk".

 

[cliveh]

Gloss will give you the best black.

 

[Carnie Bob]

Matt for me as well as HPR watercolour

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Unferrotyped, air dried glossy fiber-base paper. Period.

Doremus

 

[koraks]

That's probably it. They should have called it "table tennis racket" instead of "silk".

Yeah, it's a bit of a misnomer if you ask me.

I still have some Fomatone 532(?) that has a very similar texture. I haven't used it much. So yeah, there's a B&W equivalent. I think Agfa used to have something like this and I think it also existed in Kodak Endura/color.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I think this was called a 'canvas' texture in the past - I imagine as a reference to an oil painting on canvas.

Kodak offered the X surface, called Tapestry, Y - Silk, R - Tweed, D & K - Fine Grained. Tapestry was the most aggressive texture.

 

[koraks]

I think this was called a 'canvas' texture in the past

It's possible, although I know that Fujifilm also had a different texture they called 'canvas', which did in fact resemble a rather artificial canvas weave (so it certainly wasn't this 'silk' finish). It was introduced only a few years ago, but I think it has already been axed as well. Since this is a color product and quite recent, it's likely different from what you mean. I don't know if what I know as 'silk' was marketed as 'canvas' earlier; it's possible I guess, although it doesn't look particularly 'canvasy' to me.

Out of the Kodak line, I'm really only familiar with the 'silk'.

I think nearly all of these are textures (on RC papers) are imprinted on the roll after the paper is coated and dried. So calendered/embossed. At least that's how Fuji does it and how Kodak AFAIK did it, as well. They're not actually different paper bases; they're quite literally 'finishes'.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

The Kodak surfaces are all fiber based.

The tweed and tapestry surfaces were formed when the paper was made - before the baryta and emulsion were applied.

Reference: "A Guide to the Surface Characteristics: Kodak Fiber Base Black and White Papers," pp 47-48, Kit Funderburk -

https://125px.com/docs/misc/other/Guide_to_Surface_Characteristics_FINAL.pdf

 

[MattKing]

I am triggered by all the references in this thread to "Matt" surface - I refer to it as "Matte" surface.
This is actually a project that my Darkroom Group is planning - a discussion on what surfaces suit what sort of images.
This one happens to work best with glossy:

Tatra T-87

• MattKing
• Oct 23, 2023
• 5

A friend of mine has restored and loves to drive his 1948 Tatra T-87.

 

[JensH]

Glossy fiber (111) for me.
All time favorites here are Agfa Record Rapid and Guilleminot GSP
Ilford MGW, Galerie and Forte Museum Wight are nice, too.

Didn't like the "glossy plus" Orwo Baryt Brilliant 110.

High gloss dryed 111 is fantastic, but I seldomly find the time needed.

No demi matte or matte papers for me...

 

[mshchem]

Ektalure G.

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

Currently looking for a good subject/negative to print up some Ilford Rayon DW .
Some Ilfomar glossy and mat still sits in my paper cupboard along with some Agfa 111 FB.
Gallerie gloss is still one of my favourite papers , I have one box remaining , just waiting to produce some good negatives.