I sometimes make prints using Epson Exhibition Fiber paper. I have a roll of 24" wide paper and another roll of the same paper 17" wide. I find that prints made using the 24" roll have beautiful, rich blacks enhanced by a uniformly shiny surface of the paper. The sheen or slight gloss is imparted by the paper itself.
On the other hand, I find that prints made using the 17" roll are quite different. The same image printed by the same printer using the same profile, setup, same inks (on the same day) - no changes - has a different appearance. The print does not have the glossy appearance mentioned above - especially in the black areas. The ink almost seems to sit on the surface of the paper and has a somewhat dull appearance in the darker areas and blacks as compared to the print made on the other (24") roll. The difference is apparent even to the casual viewer. I would describe the darker areas of the print as being somewhat "bronzy" whereas the lighter areas still have the shiny-ness the paper imparts. Looking across the surface of the paper there is definitely a "gloss differential".
I'm mystified because the paper of this quality should provide the same print regardless of roll size. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong ! I can only assume there is some manufacturing defect or paper issue involved. The two rolls are from different lots (the lot numbers are close), both were bought at the same time and have been stored under the same conditions. Looking at prints made sometime back, the same problem was present, but somehow I did not make the comparison till now.
Any thoughts, advice or experience others have had in this regard would be most appreciated. Thanks,
Dennis
Bookmarks