Ilford Smooth Perl equivalent with longevity?

[JoelBelmont]

I saw some prints in AZ that were made on Ilford Smooth Perl paper... and they were the closest thing I have seen to a traditional silver print.

The problem is that it's an RC paper with a life of 10-20 years.

Does anyone know of a more archival paper that would look as good as this, or better?

I haven't tried the Epson Exhibition Fiber paper, but have heard good things about it.

Thanks for any suggestions. I am currently printing on a 9880.

~Joel

[Peter De Smidt]

Ilford Gold Silk Fibre, yes a silly name, is a very good paper.

[Steve Gledhill]

Another vote for Ilford Gold Fibre Silk and also Harman Gloss FB Al of which there are two tones - neutral/coolish and warmtone. I print with a 4800 using K3 inks with PK and ICC profile all my paper/ink combinations.

I use the Ilford Smooth Pearl for some non-long life work - for example I print calendars every year. And it's very cheap, comparatively, has quite a resilient surface and makes an excellent paper to try out images on before commiting to 'best'.

[Tyler Boley]

HI Steve, I'd like to just put in a good word for PhotoRag Baryta as well as the papers you mention.
After somewhat disappointing Hahnemuhle releases like Fine Art Baryta, Fine Art Pearl, PhotoRag Pearl, etc., I think they finally hit a home run with this one. For those interested in a photo surface, I think it can stand on it's own amongst those as a viable option.
Tyler
http://www.custom-digital.com/

[Oren Grad]

The problem is that it's an RC paper with a life of 10-20 years.

On the basis of what information do you conclude that it has a life of 10-20 years?

[Steve Gledhill]

HI Steve, I'd like to just put in a good word for PhotoRag Baryta as well as the papers you mention.
After somewhat disappointing Hahnemuhle releases like Fine Art Baryta, Fine Art Pearl, PhotoRag Pearl, etc., I think they finally hit a home run with this one. For those interested in a photo surface, I think it can stand on it's own amongst those as a viable option.
Tyler
http://www.custom-digital.com/

Hello there Tyler,
I'll give the PhotoRag Baryta a try sometime soon, I've read good reports, but it's a pity it's so pricey. Here in the UK, size for size the Harman costs roughly 50% more than the Ilford GFS, but the Hahnemuhle is more than double the GFS. Still, what price quality? Does the Hahnemuhle have the gloss differential and bronzing of the GFS or is it much less, like with the Harman?
[EDIT - I've just read Neil Snape's review which says "low bronzing, low illuminant metamerism, very low gloss differential".

[Tim C]

It's worth you while to print up samples for each paper. Before any print job, I always reach for the samples to see which direction I'll head or where I'm sent, or where the mood takes me.

I use Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl for proofing, then generally work with Crane's Museo Silver Rag, Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Pearl, Hahnemuhle Bamboo, Ilford Gold Fibre Silk.
I pefer the Hahnemuhle Baryta for color commercial work, but for exhibition material prefer Crane's Museo Silver Rag.

The printing combo' that is most cost effective and consistent is Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl and Crane's Museo Silver Rag.

[Tyler Boley]

I would say HPRB performs very lightly better with regard to gloss differential and bronzing, only because it has a slight stipple, which hides those effects. Silver Rag does as well, for the same reasons, HPRB stipple being slightly less than Silver Rag.
I'm not sure how Harman did it with such a smooth surface.
I'm not sure how the various US costs compare, I do know we had a recent GFS price increase.
Were I only printing for myself I would certainly be comparing paper prices, but since I'm printing as a service I simply have to offer these options, and their their varying contributions to the cost of the job pale in comparison to other costs of business so I'm not monitoring prices closely.
Were I printing for myself, and had a preference for the photo surfaces, I'd probably gravitate to the Ilford. It has a way of staying out of the way that I like. Very clean.
I think Neal is using an HP, so performance with regard to the issues he mentions will be very different from Epson. HPRB feels very nice in the hand too, as it's cotton, but of course once matted etc. that matters little. If you are still printing a touch warm, like your prints I've seen, I suspect the papers you already use won't be excelled by HPRB, but I mentioned it in case others may like it.
Tyler

[Steve Gledhill]

I would say HPRB performs very lightly better with regard to gloss differential and bronzing, only because it has a slight stipple, which hides those effects. Silver Rag does as well, for the same reasons, HPRB stipple being slightly less than Silver Rag.
I'm not sure how Harman did it with such a smooth surface.
...

I recall reading on another forum (Digital B&W The Print) maybe a year ago a post from Will Wodets (?) who said that the Harman, unlike all of the other gloss papers, seemed to draw the ink totally within the paper leaving the surface untouched so, without the gloss differential or the bronzing. He contrasted this with the other papers where there seems to be a residue (right word?) of surface ink which, although bonded to the paper, creates these effects. Obviously not a detailed technical explanation - but it makes sense for me.


... HPRB stipple being slightly less than Silver Rag...

Silver Rag was my first of these papers but I came to the conclusion that whilst I liked the paper in all other respects, the stipple was a touch too aggressive, particulary for small prints.


... I think Neal is using an HP, so performance with regard to the issues he mentions will be very different from Epson...

A point well worth remembering, which I hadn't. I only work with a single printer so it's easy to forget that other printers and ink combos will perform in a different way on a given paper.