Topic: printing - paper advice

[Chalky]

Hi,
I'm about to get some prints done from digital scans of polaroids, and I want them to be high quality and archival, so am not using an online service like normal.

There is a professional artists printer just a couple of miles from my house and they offer Giclee printing on various paper:

- German Etching paper 310gsm (looks like watercolor paper)
- Photo Rag 308 gsm (looks like watercolor with less texture)
- Olmec - Matt 230gsm   (more like trad photo paper)
- pruf - semi gloss photo paper 260gsm (looks like more trad gloss photo paper)

I will be asking their advice but do any of you have any experience with the above, or a favourite paper to use when making good quality prints?

any info appreciated,
Matt

[gsgary]

Hi,
I'm about to get some prints done from digital scans of polaroids, and I want them to be high quality and archival, so am not using an online service like normal.

There is a professional artists printer just a couple of miles from my house and they offer Giclee printing on various paper:

- German Etching paper 310gsm (looks like watercolor paper)
- Photo Rag 308 gsm (looks like watercolor with less texture)
- Olmec - Matt 230gsm   (more like trad photo paper)
- pruf - semi gloss photo paper 260gsm (looks like more trad gloss photo paper)

I will be asking their advice but do any of you have any experience with the above, or a favourite paper to use when making good quality prints?

any info appreciated,
Matt

That's good having a printers near St Agnes, St Ives hasn't even got a petrol station there used to be 3 or 4 there when I lived there, sorry can't help with paper I do all mine in the darkroom

Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk

[lharby]

Chalky

Would love to see the results when they are done.

I am also scanning and printing polaroids blown up to large scale. I am working with photobox. They are basic but they print on Fuji Archive Crystal paper (so I assume this must be done mimicking a darkroom technique).

I've never actually seen a giclee print in the flesh.

[Paul Mitchell]

Would they be able to make a test print on each paper type to see which you prefer?

For archival purposes the Photo rag is the best.

I use Fotospeed Smooth Cotton or Natural Soft Textured Bright White for all my inkjet (or if you want to be posh 'giclee') prints.

Paul

[Chalky]

Hi all.
Yes I have requested a print on both - Photo Rag and pruf - semi gloss photo paper to see which I prefer so I will know for next time.

I also laughed to myself when I finally learnt what giclee meant!

I'll post examples when I have them.

For info I use http://dscolourlabs.co.uk/ for all online printing and the speed price and quality are always great, I just wanted this one to be as good as I can make it.

Cheers

[jojonas~]

I am also scanning and printing polaroids blown up to large scale. I am working with photobox. They are basic but they print on Fuji Archive Crystal paper (so I assume this must be done mimicking a darkroom technique).

yeah, I've seen different names so I wonder if that would be called a gelatin print or c-print in the gallery world?

I also laughed to myself when I finally learnt what giclee meant!

as soon as one reads "inkjet" it gets another ring to it, doesn't it? though I'm sure it's done very well and I've seen some blown up photos in giclee print that looked amazing.

[Francois]

And when you get the real translation from French you'll see that it's even more disappointing

[artobest]

As a professional fine-art printer myself, I have increasingly come to favour and recommend smooth-surface, matte cotton papers for their unobtrusiveness - Innova Smooth Cotton Natural White or Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth. Definition is finer than with, say, vanilla Photo Rag, hand-feel is lovely, customer is happy. For the deepest blacks and widest gamut, you need to go for a top-quality baryta, such as Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta or the Canson equivalent, as long as the pigment inks are coated or encapsulated to avoid bronzing - my machine lays a fine varnish down over the final print.

Watercolour papers and canvas don't print with quite the same fidelity, and ironically, are worse for printing watercolour or oil paintings, as the texture of the paper clashes with the texture of the picture.

[Chalky]

Thanks for the excellent response :-)

I will check the exact details, but one of the papers I chose was hahnemuhle photo rag, but I don't think it was an extra smooth one?

I should have the prints this week so will try and feedback asap.

Thanks!

[02Pilot]

As a professional fine-art printer myself, I have increasingly come to favour and recommend smooth-surface, matte cotton papers for their unobtrusiveness - Innova Smooth Cotton Natural White or Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth. Definition is finer than with, say, vanilla Photo Rag, hand-feel is lovely, customer is happy. For the deepest blacks and widest gamut, you need to go for a top-quality baryta, such as Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta or the Canson equivalent, as long as the pigment inks are coated or encapsulated to avoid bronzing - my machine lays a fine varnish down over the final print.

Watercolour papers and canvas don't print with quite the same fidelity, and ironically, are worse for printing watercolour or oil paintings, as the texture of the paper clashes with the texture of the picture.

artobest, I hope you don't mind me asking a few questions. Given your experience with printing, perhaps you can help me make some informed decisions.

First, printers. Right now, I have a Canon 9000 MkII inkjet. I'm considering upgrading to a Pro-100. Most of my printing is B&W, so the addition of two grays to the inkset on the Pro-100 seems like it would be advantageous. While I'm sure you're dealing with higher end equipment, do you have an opinion on whether such an upgrade is worthwhile?

Next, inks. As you know, both printers use dye inks, which from what I've read are quite durable these days - what is your feeling on dye versus pigment for longevity? On a related note, do you have any thoughts on third-party inks? Cost is a factor for me, so I'm considering trying to refill rather than replace the cartridges.

Finally, paper. I've tried types of paper and I'm attracted to the look of baryta. I know that some are pigment only, but others claim to be compatible with both dye and pigment. Do you have any experience with how well dye inks work on these baryta papers?

Thanks so much for any insights you can provide.