Bixi Posted October 25, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 25, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi all, I have an Epson pro 3800 printer at home. Now I'd like to find the best possible paper for my photographs (which are dominantly black & white and high in contrast). I tried some Ilford Pearl Luster - which is nice - but I'd prefer matte paper. All my research brings me to Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Bright White 310gsm Digital Fine Art. Here is the link: Hahnemühle FineArt - The Art of Expression since 1584 Has anyone used this paper? Any experience with it? I really like the look and sound of it. I guess that I'e have to create my own printer settings for it. Any help would be most appreciated. Best, Bixi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 25, 2009 Posted October 25, 2009 Hi Bixi, Take a look here Epson Pro 3800 & Photo Rag Bright White 310gsm. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Jeff S Posted October 25, 2009 Share #2 Posted October 25, 2009 Hi all, I have an Epson pro 3800 printer at home. Now I'd like to find the best possible paper for my photographs (which are dominantly black & white and high in contrast). I tried some Ilford Pearl Luster - which is nice - but I'd prefer matte paper. All my research brings me to Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Bright White 310gsm Digital Fine Art. Here is the link: Hahnemühle FineArt - The Art of Expression since 1584 Has anyone used this paper? Any experience with it? I really like the look and sound of it. I guess that I'e have to create my own printer settings for it. Any help would be most appreciated. Best, Bixi Not quite, but I love their 320 Photo Rag Pearl for my black and white work. A close friend of mine, who also loves this paper for bw, recently tried the Photo Rag Baryta and likes it even better...less white/bright and seems to "sink into the paper" to a greater extent. Hahnemuhle makes some great products. Very substantial, quality feel and construction...quite similar in that respect to some of my former papers for silver prints. Jeff PS Yes, creating specific paper profiles for your computer/printer is critical for getting best results. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickp13 Posted October 25, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 25, 2009 hello bixi i found a hahnemühle digital fine art collection sample pack in 13x18cm at the local calumet store. there are 14 different papers including your photo rag bright white 310, in weights from 210g albrecht dürer to 410g monet canvas. maybe it would be useful to take your latest favorite image and print it on all 14? at a minimum, you might confirm your choice of the photo rag, but you'll also have a reference point for different papers when you're after a special effect. greetings from hamburg rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted October 26, 2009 Share #4 Posted October 26, 2009 Bixi, forgot to mention in my post above that I, too, use the Epson 3800. I also just realized that you like high contrast bw, whereas my bw prints are often geared toward more subtle tonalities. Nevertheless, I think you'd like several of the Hahnemuhle papers once profiled properly. I just checked your website and I think your bw work will print beautifully on these papers...not sure I'd characterize it as "high contrast" (a la Bill Brandt, for instance). Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bixi Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted October 26, 2009 Dear Jeff and Rick, I'd like to thank both of you for your thoughtful comments regarding my paper/printer situation. And Jeff, thanks for looking at my website and giving me feedback. Best, Bixi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted October 26, 2009 Share #6 Posted October 26, 2009 Hi Bixi, I use a 3800 and all my papers (matte & gloss) tend to be Hahnemuhle photo rags normal, duo, ultra smooth or baryta. I have tried the bright white in a sample pack but was put off by comments I'd read about brighteners used to make such paper and the effects longterm on the inks. I can't say or know for sure if hahnemuhle use such brighteners but from my own personal preference I always seem to come back to the standard rag which I have a fondness for. However if high contrast is the goal, semi matte or pearl or even baryta tend to give stronger Dmax and much blacker blacks than standard rag. The ICC profiles supplied on the Hahnemuhle website are quite good and seem to work very well for me. However when exploring the advanced black & white function of the 3800 I came across Eric Chan's website dedicated to printing with the 3800. It's well worth a read and he has some custom ICC profiles available for download to use with Hahnemuhle papers and ABW mode. I'd second the recommendation to pick up a trial pack with the various papers to try, it might prove more cost effective as this paper is not cheap. For general printing I recommend the Ilford Golf Fibre Silk, again another baryta type paper but very cost effective for general printing with excellent results in both colour & B&W. On a side note, of you're using the 3800 with a Mac, I'd hold off on upgrading to snow leopard until Epson release proper drivers for the 3800 in SL. I have a few printing issues since moving to SL and now tend to use an older Mac not upgraded and still on Leopard for my printing. Expect new drivers around late November from Epson. The address for Eric's site is Epson Stylus Pro 3800 Printer Notes and Resources Have fun ! . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted October 26, 2009 Share #7 Posted October 26, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) For general printing I recommend the Ilford Golf Fibre Silk, again another baryta type paper but very cost effective for general printing with excellent results in both colour & B&W. . +1 Ilford Gold Fibre Silk, my favorite paper for color work, occasionally bw...more gloss/contrast than the Photo Rag Pearl 320. Fortunately, my photo bud used his expensive gear to custom profile these 2 papers. Along with a calibrated NEC screen, what I see is what I print...only better. Next step...installing the Quadtone RIP. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Posted October 26, 2009 Share #8 Posted October 26, 2009 You definitely need to check out the Hahnemühle trial pack. Personally, I was initially drawn towards PR Bright White too, but eventually changed to PR Pearl because the latter just packed a bit more "punch" - the consequence of being a glossy paper with higher ink/paper Dmax. I would even have favored PR Baryta because it goes one step further in terms of contrast, but unfortunately it is too glossy for my purposes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bixi Posted October 26, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted October 26, 2009 Eoin, Jeff and nightfire, You three are fantastic All of your feedback and thoughts are highly appreciated. The trial pack will be a must I think. Thanks again, Bixi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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