7880 Coming in Mail. Need Media Suggestions

[Photosytes]

My Epson 7880 should be arriving any day now. I have made space for it in my office but now need to order some paper samples.

I will probably be using Photo Black and will be printing both black and white and colour images (very few portraits, mostly landscapes, abstracts, wildlife, etc.).

I've been doing some searching for recommended media and have found several but was wondering what other brands/specific media I might want to evaluate.

I wouldn't mind a few suggestions for a good but inexpensive paper for prints that will not be sold (so doesn't need to be archival). For all prints that will be sold I will only be using archival paper. I'd like to hear some suggestions for many types, from smooth, to textured and some canvas.

Any recommendations you can make would be greatly appreciated!!

[Atul Mohidekar]

Hi,

I'm going through the same process of deciding which papers would suite my needs. Selection of a paper is a very personal and subjective choice. So I ordered a couple of sample packs to feel the paper weight, texture, print tones and colors. There are some digital files available on Bill Atkinson's download web page (Profile Test Images: http://homepage.mac.com/billatkinson/FileSharing2.html) that could be used to test the tonal range and color gamut of different papers.

Regards,


// Atul

[Tyler Boley]

I'd advise getting some sample packs such as those from Shades Of Paper-
http://www.shadesofpaper.com/index.php?cPath=49&osCsid=v6m78p0somfmrqbrnrv3uidme6
Tyler

[Gem Singer]

Try the Epson Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte.

It's a real sleeper. Inexpensive, but excellent quality.

Works great with the new K-3 inks.

[Photosytes]

Try the Epson Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte.

It's a real sleeper. Inexpensive, but excellent quality.

Works great with the new K-3 inks.

This is a matte paper. I am looking for media to use with the Photo Black cartridge. Anything else that would fit the bill?

[Gem Singer]

Try it. You might be pleasantly surprised.

It is a matte paper, but it has a nice smooth surface.

An unbelievable DMax.

[Photosytes]

Shades of Paper seems like a great resource, if you live in the US. I was just about to order $40 worth of samples but it was going to cost me $40 to ship it here. Not exactly inexpensive or reasonable for samples. Guess I'll look closer to home, but thanks anyway.

[Photosytes]

Try it. You might be pleasantly surprised.

It is a matte paper, but it has a nice smooth surface.

An unbelievable DMax.

Are you saying to use it with Photo Black Ink?

[Atul Mohidekar]

Try this one for the sample packs:

http://www.atlex.com/sample_paper/paper-samples.htm


// Atul

[Gem Singer]

I suppose that the new K-3 photo black ink will work best with the new Exhibition Fiber paper. It is available in a glossy surface.

Haven't tried it yet.

However, it is quite a bit more expensive than the Ultra Premium.

[Photosytes]

I looked at that site, Atul. Great sample packs (although they are only 8.5x11 and I'm not sure if the 7880 will deal with anything less than 11x17, or so their documentation says). However, it doesn't appear as if they ship to Canada.

[RPNugent]

B&H currently has Exhibition Fiber on sale for about half normal price and free shipping (not sure if Canada is covered) until the end of December. It looks a lot like a black and white glossy paper air dried.

Ultra Premium Glossy is the only one of Epson's papers I have used on a 3880 that gives a wet darkroom color glossy surface. Not sure if it comes in rolls or how big beyond the 11x14 I have seen in my local store. Both would work with Photo black,

Enhanced matte or Ultra Presentation matte (same paper) will only work with standard available profiles using Matte black ink as far as I know. You might be able to force it to use Photo black with a profile you create.

[Photosytes]

Canada wouldn't be covered in the free shipping from B&H, unfortunately.

[jp]

It is a very personal choice.

I like Epson Enhanced Matte on my 7600 ultrachrome printer. It's relatively inexpensive, high quality, not distracting, and versatile.

[Bill L.]

You may want to figure out if you want to do primarily glossy/luster or matte finished papers, so you can decide between photo and matte black inks. Then get a bunch of sample packs and see what you like. I have a 4800 for paper - using Epson Ultra Premium Presentation Matte (formerly Enhanced Matte) for proofing and Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 for final prints, and a 9800 using Epson Matte Canvas - both use matte black inks.

Cheers!
Bill

[PAllen]

You should try the Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta (glossy) or the Hahnemuhle Photo Rag (Matte). The Baryta is a great paper for the Photo Black. It is not a high gloss, more of a luster, and is great for both black and white and color images. The Photo Rag is what I think Matte paper should be. We also have the Epson Doubleweight Matte paper in stock, and it makes good images, but it doesn't have quite the weight and presence as the Hahnemuhle. The Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster is our go to inexpensive paper with nice results.

Patrick Allen
www.KenAllenDigital.com

[keith english]

I have been very happy with the Ilford Fiber Gold Silk with the photo-black. A slightly pebbled semi-gloss surface and it perfectly matches my screen when printing BW. Some don't like the warm tone of the base. It is much cheaper than the Epson Exhibition, though I am tempted to try it and the Hahnemuhle byarta coated gloss.