jsrockit Posted February 7, 2010 Share #1 Posted February 7, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been using Harman Matt FB Mp and Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth as my Matte papers and they are very nice. However, they are too matte for some photos and I would like a quality pearl or semi gloss type of paper. Something like the old Ilford Fiber Base Glossy from my wet darkroom days... i.e. something not too glossy (like RC papers), but something with a little shine to it to make some colors pop. Any suggestions would be great. Something like Ilford's Galerie Gold Fibre Silk, but with an ICC for the HP B8850. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 7, 2010 Posted February 7, 2010 Hi jsrockit, Take a look here Glossy or Pearl Papers?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
earleygallery Posted February 8, 2010 Share #2 Posted February 8, 2010 Harman do a glossy paper as well. Fuji pearl is nice too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted February 8, 2010 Thanks EG, do you know if the Harman is really glossy like resin coated papers, or more like a fiber base type glossy? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 8, 2010 Share #4 Posted February 8, 2010 It's what I'd call a semi-gloss. I've not found an inkjet paper yet that's as glossy as 'real' glossy photo paper, but I've only tried Harman, Fuji and Canon and Kodak. I'd say the Canon pro paper was the most glossy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thompsonkirk Posted February 8, 2010 Share #5 Posted February 8, 2010 Harman's glossy surface is just a bit shinier than the old air-dried F surface papers. Epson's Exhibition Fiber (different Euro name?) is the best match. But Harman also comes in Warmtone. This paper base is an almost perfect match for the classic Portriga Rapid 111. Neither is like RC. Kirk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted February 8, 2010 Share #6 Posted February 8, 2010 I'm in the process of "reviewing" several of the baryta-based papers that attempt to look like classic "glossy-air-dried" fiber photo paper. Using Epson 3800 printer. The contenders (limited to what I can buy locally and consistently) are: • Harman FB Gloss (Harman being the English "film" part of the old Ilford - same folks who make Ilford chemical silver B&W papers and HP5 and XP2 and so on) • Ilford Gold Fiber Silk (That comes from the Swiss arm of Ilford, and Ciba-Geigy before that - same folks who make the other "Ilford" inkjet papers and Ilfochrome/Cibachrome color positive paper) (I hope that is clear - a little like trying to keep track of Leica Camera AG and Leica Geosystems) • Legion Moab Colorado Fiber Gloss 245 (whew!) • Legion Moab Colorado Fiber Satine 245 • Epson Exhibition Fiber First point - these all look more or less like traditional silver-based air-dried glossy photo papers. And very different from the RC Glossy or Pearl or Luster papers from Epson or the "Ilford Galerie"(Swiss) inkjet papers. No mirror gloss, no pebbly luster/pearl surfaces, and the back surface is plain paper with no "Epson" or "Kodak" watermarking. Second point - The Harman FB Glossy is available in a neutral white and a "warm tone" version. Warm Tone just means the paper base is slightly yellower or cream-tinted (slightly!). The Ilford GFS is strictly warm-tone. The other three are neutral white. I prefer the neutral white, myself, being an old Ilfobrome - Brovira - Kodabromide printer. But taste is taste. Third point - I think the Harman FB has a slightly "deeper" look - as though it had an extra transparent gelatin layer over the ink-receiving layer (which is what Harman claims - I believe them based on results). By comparison. all the others (especially the Epson) look just a tiny bit cardboardy (like a printed glossy cereal box) with a bit more striated paper grain showing through the surface. The Harman has a slightly deeper DMax - IMHO) A very small difference - probably completely invisible once under glass - but one that tilts me towards the Harman when I really want a B&W to look like the air-dried silver papers I used in the 70s. Fourth point - paper weight: • Epson Fiber Exhibition - 325g - definitely a stiff, "double-weight" feel • Harman FB Gloss - 320g • Ilford Gold Fiber Silk - 310g • Both Moab Colorados - 245g - much more of a "single-weight" feel. Not a bad thing - just something to note. Fifth point - the Moab Colorado Satine is a less-glossy surface than the others. Almost a matte surface (but works with Photo Black inks instead of Matte Black). Like Agfa's Portriga-Rapid 113 matte version (but not "warm"). It has the disadvantage of being concave towards the printing side, so the edges will often catch the print head unless the platen gap is set pretty wide. The Gloss version (and the other papers) curves the other way and does not have this problem. Sixth point - gloss differential (different reflectivity between paper white and printed areas) The Harman seems to show the least gloss differential (again, that extra "depth" seems to put the ink behind a glossy overcoat). The Epson, Ilford, and Colorado Gloss show a bit more. The Colorado Satine shows a lot, since the surface is much matte-er than Epson's resin-encapsulated inks. At the moment, I favor Harman FB Gloss for B&W. It just looks more "gelatiny" and "silvery" than the others by a small amount. It is the most expensive, though. For color or B&W rough prints, I like the Moab Colorado Gloss. Not better than the Harman, but not worse for color, less costly, and the lighter weight is a nice thing when carrying a portfolio of 30 A3+ prints or paying postage. _______________ Edit: One additional point I should mention. Nowhere in Legion/Moab's information do they mention "Baryta" that I can see, whereas all the other papers listed here specifically mention a baryta (white clay) undercoating. Practically, I don't see much difference in the papers other than what I've already noted, but I thought I'd mention that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted February 8, 2010 Share #7 Posted February 8, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) … Epson's Exhibition Fiber (different Euro name?) is the best match.Kirk True, Exhibition Fiber is know as Epson Traditional Photo Paper in Europe. Epson confirmed to me that the papers are the same. It is a paper that I like, the surface is best described as stippled glossy. Good for B&W I have not used it for colour. I also like Ilford Gallerie gold fibre silk, a similar paper but as others have said marginally warmer and less expensive than the Epson. I'm yet to try the Harman FB gloss Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted February 8, 2010 Ok, looks like I was on the right track with Harman. Thanks guys. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted February 8, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 8, 2010 Although I don't print very often nowadays, I found Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl to be a safe and impressive surface, matt with a hint of sheen. I downloaded ICC profiles from the Ilford site. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share #10 Posted February 8, 2010 The problem with Ilford is they don't have any ICC for my printer (HP B8850) ... it works ok for color using their suggestions, but not for B&W (due to a color tint). I'd rather stick to ones that have a profile for my printer. Too bad, because I like the Galarie Gold Fiber Silk. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted February 8, 2010 Share #11 Posted February 8, 2010 jsrockit, is there not a near relative HP printer in the list which just might work in a similar fashion? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share #12 Posted February 8, 2010 jsrockit, is there not a near relative HP printer in the list which just might work in a similar fashion? There is... maybe I should try that. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwolf Posted February 8, 2010 Share #13 Posted February 8, 2010 The problem with Ilford is they don't have any ICC for my printer (HP B8850) ... it works ok for color using their suggestions, but not for B&W (due to a color tint). I'd rather stick to ones that have a profile for my printer. Too bad, because I like the Galarie Gold Fiber Silk. Did you see this list? May be a good starting point. HP - Graphic Arts - HP Photosmart Pro B8850 ICC Profiles Inkjetart.com sells a lot of vendor sample packets. So does Amazon. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted February 8, 2010 Share #14 Posted February 8, 2010 I prefer Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta and Photo Rag Pearl (both glossy papers) for b&w; Ilford Gold Fibre Silk for color (and occasionally b&w). Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share #15 Posted February 8, 2010 Did you see this list? May be a good starting point. HP - Graphic Arts - HP Photosmart Pro B8850 ICC Profiles No, I haven't... I've just been going to the paper manufactuer sites to get the ICCs. Looks good, thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.