Paper for backlit : "duratrans" or inkjet printing ?

[pingu]

Hello everybody


First of all, please apologize my rude english : I'm french.

It's my very first time posting on this forum, thanks you.

I want to print images for lightbox. But I can't decide myself what is the best : duratrans or inket printing

For RA4 process, I have to choose between Kodak Translucent Endura II or Transparent Fuji Clear.

I don't know what paper I should choose...

Or I can try an inkjet print ?

As far as I know : inkjet printing is a bit weak in black area but with more dynamic colors.


Could someone give me an advice ?

[Daniel Stone]

RA-4 will probably have more "pop". Check out Peter Lik, he's done some transparency(backlit) presentation before, and it's pretty stunning when seen in-person!

Also, RA-4 I'd feel more "permanent" about than ink sitting on a polyster type surface, potential for banding, etc...

-Dan

[pingu]

Thanks for your answer, Dan

I'm sorry but what do you mean exactly by "pop"...
(I'm writing from Paris so...)

All the best

RA-4 will probably have more "pop".

[polyglot]

more "pop" usually means more contrast and saturation. But you can get as much of that as you want digitally as long as the output medium has enough gamut.

Note that you can print digitally to RA4 transparency using lightjet in exactly the same way as making digital RA4 reflective prints. So if a particular image can be realised as an analogue print to RA4, it can also be done digitally.

I would not trust any transparent chromogenic (RA4) material to be in any way archival, particularly because it is typically installed either outdoors or mounted in front of a powerful light source. The dyes are not going to have a long and happy life that way! Sandwiching it in acrylic (to absorb UV) would help. Inkjet will probably be no better because the truly archival (pigment) inks are not (as far as I know) suitable for transparency use. I think you need dyes for transparency.

[Drew Wiley]

UV will be inherent to backlit displays, and any "UV-inhibiting" overlay with only slightly delay the inevitable. But front lighting a print with halogen lighting, a common
practice, bombards the image with plenty of UV too, as does sunlight. It's all relative to just how much. There are complicated alt ways to make such things, but
basically RA4 is it nowadays as a commercial option.