SILVER-EMULATION FIBER INKJET PAPERS --- ongoing reports from the front...This new generation of papers has appeared in response to the fine art community's demand for papers that look as rich and wonderful as the long standing benchmark provided by the air-dried f-surface fiber silver print.
Tech note: The print evaluations are based on tests using HP Vivera pigment inks with the HPB9180 printer and may not reflect results from other printers or with other inks. I have not noticed a dramatic difference between these prints and pigment prints from Epson technology, however, so I suspect that these observations can be extrapolated to other pigment inks.
Moab Colorado Fiber Gloss 245
There was significant scuffing on top sheet and there was no protective insert included in the box of 25 sheets. The paper is 10 mils thick and curls a bit naturally but not enough to be a problem as was reported in early batches. (245 gsm). An 8x10 sheet is roughly $1.40.
The literature describes the paper as “simulating an air-dried print” and “enhanced with a slight fiber-texture” with a “glacier-white” surface.
The blank unprinted paper has a visual texture and thickness remarkable similar to double weight silver fiber paper, mild air-dried glossy. Side by side comparison shows remarkable little difference when compared to Ilfork MultiGrade Fiber paper. The bright white base is very similar as well and does contains optical brightener. The slight natural curl away from coated side is not enough to be a problem.
The back surface seems to be a real fiber paper surface – the paper is in fact neutral PH alpha cellulose and acid-free with a one-side printing surface. The surface is considerably more resistant to damage from bending than a baryta coated paper.
The paper has a slight fine grain surface - viewed under small direct light source it can appear a bit speckly and grainy, a glinty stipple, more so than fiber silver papers, and might be distracting to some. The blacks are very rich and the dmax is impressive ( Moab claims 2.4!) when viewed at multiple angles to the light source.
There is a substantial differential gloss effect – the darks and the midtones are glossy while the whites reflect the same gloss as the paper base. Since the gloss of the ink is adds to the gloss of the printed areas the differential gloss is noted between any printed area and the blank whites, but not between the darks and the midtones. Bronzing is not apparent with color or greyscale inks.
OVERALL IMPRESSION
I would use this paper without hesitation. The print is beautiful and smooth. It’s not exactly like silver paper, but silver paper isn’t perfect either. The differential gloss and the specular grainy surface are important considerations but I can live with both of those.
Harman Gloss Fiber AL with baryta
The paper is a substantial 12 mils thick, a very solid feel, lays flat (320 gsm) The paper incorporates an “anti-curl” system to keep the paper flat after drying. It is roughly $ 1.60 for an 8.5x11 sheet.
The surface is very smooth with minimal grain. Specular highlights when illuminated by a small light source are not an issue. The paper surface can be distracting when illuminated at certain angles and bumps ripples and paper imperfections can be annoyingly obvious. The delicate surface is not forgiving of the slightest mishandling -
paper is easily scuffed and mild hairline scratches are guaranteed if the paper is not handled very carefully. Bending the paper risks easily cracking the baryta coating. Even the slightest bend becomes embedded in the paper can be a permanent and distracting surface quality of the print.
My biggest concern is the slight haze to the image, particularly to the dark areas, and especially pronounced if the light is coming from a certain angle – much like the effect seen in the glossy silver RC papers. This is most pronounced when illuminated with direction spots, as might be the case in a gallery setting. The dmax (maximum black) is not as rich and luscious as I would like and prone to the cloudy-haze effect ( with Vivera inks ).
There is some bronzing visible in some transitional areas and the differential gloss effect is fairly obvious when there are adjacent whites and dark areas.
Shortcomings aside, the paper has a wonderful old-school look that draws in the eye. With vivera inks, the haziness of the image is enough, however, for me to reject this paper. That may not be an issue with other inks, however
OVERALL IMPRESSION
Some real potential if you handle the paper extremely carefully and find an ink that does not haze and bronze. Rejected for the B9180 pigment Vivera inks.
Epson Exhibition Fiber
A seriously substantial paper measuring 13 mils ( 325 gsm), approaching the quality of poster-board, it lays quite flat with a slight curl away from the printable side. It gets up into a serious price range as well, about $2.40 for an 8.5x11 sheet. The gloss paper has a slight sheen very much like air-dried f surface fiber silver paper, but not quite as much sheen as the Moab Colorado. The textured surface is very agreeable and not distracting, and there is little distracting "speckling" or "glint" as the surface catches the reflection of a hard light source. Paper base is bright white, almost identical to Moab Colorado but ever so slightly warmer.
The blacks have a wonderful rich semi-gloss ink quality that is even more attractive than the Moab Colorado, and have none of the cloudiness that I see on the Harman paper. ( Epson reports a dmax of 2.5+!) There is differential gloss between the areas of paper receiving ink and the areas that are not but not a trace of the dreaded bronzing or silvering. In a direct gallery lighting environment, the paper surface and quality of the tones are breathtakingly rich. Epson profiles are available at www.pixelgenius.com/epson - I'm still searching for HP
OVERALL IMPRESSION: For silver-emulation papers, this is as good as I've seen and even I am willing to pay the hefty price. . Incredible looking stuff - the more I look at it the more I like it. The print has that hard-to-describe quality that just draws me in and reminds me of why I am obsessed with the photographic print. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
- next on my list:
Hahnemuhle Fine Art Baryta
ilford galerie gold fiber silk
Innova Fibaprint Ultasmooth Gloss
Canon Polished Rag Fine Art Media
