Paper recomendations for Epson 3880 / 7880 printers?

[dmora]

My professor doesnt want us using Epson "Premium Luster" paper for our projects. But i really like it. His argument is that he does not like the pebble texture on it.

But i hate glossy and matte finishes. Is there something with the look of epson luster but with out the pebble texture that isnt super glossy and absolutely not a matte.


I got some Ilford Galerie Smoother Pearl paper and i really like it a lot. He says its better than the Epson luster paper, but still suggests i keep looking for something. He says he wants something like traditional film paper with the "smooth, soft, almost clay like texture".

[PIC]

I use Epson Matte and Glossy on my Epson 2200.
But when I want between Matte, Glossy I use Kodak Ultra
or Epson Ink Jet and Epson Photo paper.
I have used typing and writting papers also.
With InkJets you can use almost any paper even the
ones not intended ...

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by dmora

My professor doesnt want us using Epson "Premium Luster" paper for our projects. But i really like it. His argument is that he does not like the pebble texture on it.

But i hate glossy and matte finishes. Is there something with the look of epson luster but with out the pebble texture that isnt super glossy and absolutely not a matte.


I got some Ilford Galerie Smoother Pearl paper and i really like it a lot. He says its better than the Epson luster paper, but still suggests i keep looking for something. He says he wants something like traditional film paper with the "smooth, soft, almost clay like texture".

Based on your description, some of the baryta and fiber-based papers might be a good match, but they tend to be more expensive. My personal favorite is Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta. It has a little bit of texture, but not 'eggshell'. It's more like they had taken their Photo Rag matte paper and put a semi-gloss coating on it.

Another paper you could look into is Ilford's fiber-gloss paper, I don't remember the exact name off the top of my head but I think it's 'Gold Fiber' or something similar to that. I think it's also a bit cheaper than most of the other fiber-based papers.

[venchka]

You should have a serious talk with your professor and his boss.

Tell your professor that way back in the Dark Ages a lot of people, like me, used a lot of Agfa Brovira Luster paper. It's not that far from Epson Luster. I have both at home.

Then tell your professor that you are making photos for you. He can make his own photos any way he likes.

When you get kicked out of class it wasn't my fault. Grinning!

But seriously, who is this guy?

[dmora]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

Based on your description, some of the baryta and fiber-based papers might be a good match, but they tend to be more expensive. My personal favorite is Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta. It has a little bit of texture, but not 'eggshell'. It's more like they had taken their Photo Rag matte paper and put a semi-gloss coating on it.

Another paper you could look into is Ilford's fiber-gloss paper, I don't remember the exact name off the top of my head but I think it's 'Gold Fiber' or something similar to that. I think it's also a bit cheaper than most of the other fiber-based papers.

You sound like my professor! He suggested Baryta!

Originally Posted by venchka

You should have a serious talk with your professor and his boss.

Tell your professor that way back in the Dark Ages a lot of people, like me, used a lot of Agfa Brovira Luster paper. It's not that far from Epson Luster. I have both at home.

Then tell your professor that you are making photos for you. He can make his own photos any way he likes.

When you get kicked out of class it wasn't my fault. Grinning!

But seriously, who is this guy?

See above!



But i kind of see his point... I was looking for a good description of the texture of Epson Premium Luster and "eggshell" is perfect. I really would like to see if i could find some paper like some nice photo sensitive paper to make prints from film on. I like that texture a lot. I just want to avoid matte as i hate it and super glossy as i hate that too. :p

I'll see if i can get a sample pack of the Hanemule (sp)

[venchka]

And my rant was not for public consumption beyond you and me.

It was a dark day when Agfa Brovira Semi-gloss was taken off the market.

Does your professor know how much the baryta papers cost?????????????????????

State of the art is nice. State of the possible is what most of us have to contend with.

If the photo is good enough, you could print it on Xerox copy paper. No paper in the world will turn a turkey into a swan.

Do you have proper profiles for all of the off the wall papers you can bring in?

I'm thinking that the class prints on the same paper. That way you can focus on the photos. Not what one paper does and another paper doesn't do. Does that make sense? Someday when you have money an time you can begin the quest for the Perfect Magic Bullet Paper. Assuming you also have the Perfect Magic Bullet Printer.

[KJ Smith]

Originally Posted by dmora

My professor doesnt want us using Epson "Premium Luster" paper for our projects. But i really like it. His argument is that he does not like the pebble texture on it.

And He is the one that determines your grade.

Print the ones you show him on what He likes.

End of discussion.

[ChuckW]

You could try Red River's Arctic Polar Luster; I don't know if he would consider that too close to Epson's product or not, you might show him a test print. Another suggestion would be Epson's Exhibition Fiber paper - not a cheap paper but very professional quality!

Otherwise "don't fight city hall," ask him what paper he likes the best and print on that!

[jeffkohn]

I would guess pretty much anything with "luster" or "pearl" in the name, he won't like since it's probably going to have that eggshell surface to some extent.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by KJ Smith

And He is the one that determines your grade.

Print the ones you show him on what He likes.

End of discussion.

Aye! That's something I learned for all of my college classes. It's been so long ago that I overlooked the practical matters. "Give 'em what they want."

After school is over, you will have the rest of your life to chase Magic Bullets.

Good luck!

[studiocygnet]

Red River Artic Polar Satin? You could get a sample box from Red River and show them to your teacher, and see what he likes.

[venchka]

Have look at a current paper discussion at the Large Format Forum. There may be something there that works for you.

Latest best inkjet papers - Large Format Photography Forum

Let us know what works for your professor.

ps:

Inkjet Art Sample Packs

http://www.inkjetart.com/cart/sample-packs-c-1676.html

Have you ever printed on Moab Entrada 300 Natural Rag?

[venchka]

Claim that you are going 100% recycled paper:

Sugar Cane
300 gsm · 75% Bagasse fiber · 25% cotton · natural white
Hahnemühle Sugar Cane combines the high standards of a FineArt inkjet paper with responsible use of raw materials. A “bagasse” pulp is used that is a by-product of raw sugar production. The cotton portion is made from recycling our own paper waste. Displaying the fine texture of a pastel paper Sugar Cane lends every image an artistic look and feel.

[jeffkohn]

Daniel said he hates matte papers, so I'm guessing stuff like Sugar Cane or Moab Entrada might not be to his liking.

If you really want a "smooth, soft, almost clay like texture" with a semi-gloss surface I think Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta will be the closest match to what he's looking for. Just don't confuse Photo Rag Baryta with Fine Art Baryta, the surfaces are different. Innova also makes a paper with a similar surface, it used to be called F-Type Gloss but now they have several similarly-named papers and I'm not exactly sure what the differences are between them.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

Daniel said he hates matte papers,

Go figure. So did I when I was his age. Maybe I can convert him.