Originally Posted by
Mark Sampson
The nature of the matte surface (which diffuses the reflected light) means that a black as deep as found on glossy paper cannot be obtained. it's not a quality issue, but an esthetic one. A matte paper can have a perfectly believable black, and some workers prefer them. If you want numbers, when i was testing RC papers at Kodak in the 1990s, Kodabrome II RC F (glossy) had a Dmax of about 2.0; Kodabrome II RC N (matte) had a Dmax of about 1.6. (I only quote those remembered numbers for long-discontinued paper to suggest the general relationship.) If you have developed a strong affinity for matte paper, then use matte paper and be happy. We are making pictures, after all, not H&D curves.
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