Ink-Jet Paper Suggestions - DPChallenge Forums

07/21/2003 07:32:00 PM · #2

I use Office depot 10.2 mil glossy paper,extremely white,I paid 40$for 100 sheet,which is cheapest in the stores IMO!

That is 40 cents per page...

Message edited by author 2003-07-21 19:46:44.

Panasonic Lumix G VARIO 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH Mega O.I.S

07/21/2003 07:44:20 PM · #3

I get great results using Epson Colorlife paper, with Epson inks.

Costs about $1 per page I think

wetland

Panasonic Lumix DMC GH3

07/21/2003 09:21:18 PM · #4

I also have Epson 820 and have had consistently good results with image quality...if you use Epson paper and if you keep the pens from clogging. That is also easily solvable if it happens with www.fixyourownprinter.com stuff. Also recently starting using Kodak premium paper and got good results.

dwoolridge

07/21/2003 10:09:59 PM · #5

I'll second Gordon here and give high praise for Epson Colorlife, which is pretty much he same as the Ilford Galerie (Classic) papers on my canon printer. I prefer the output from the IG Smooth papers, but these suffer from gas fading (unlike ECl and IGC which are polymer coated).

You can find some interesting paper/ink results here:
//www.livick.com/method/inkjet/pg1.htm

goodtempo

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

07/21/2003 10:46:43 PM · #6

I get great results on my Epson Photo Stylus 785EPX using Epson inks on Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper. Just have to make sure you tell the printer which paper you are using.

dwoolridge

07/22/2003 12:06:05 AM · #7

Actually, I'd stay away from Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper. Not only does it suffer from gas fading, but there have been reports of under glass fading/fogging as well with it.

What are the signs of quality to you? Best (subjective) results for the lowest cost per page? Best quality, regardless of print longevity (maybe for print archiving)? Longest life under typically "on display" viewing conditions? Best quality under all light/viewing conditions (avoiding metamerism)? Anything else?

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

07/22/2003 10:52:20 AM · #8

My only criteria for quality : Prints that look identical to what is on the screen. In fact they often look slightly better. (better blacks mainly)

When it comes to printing, I am not doing much in the way of volume, so I'm not particularly sensitive to per page costs.

I'm also not selling any of my inkjet prints, so I am not particularly sensitive to longevity issues. The prints I do at home are either for personal display (sticking on a wall in my office or home), sharing with family or display for clients who are going to use my pictures.

For prints that I want to really last (like a 20x30 print I have framed in my living room) I used a chemical print process so I have higher expectations for how long it will last.

I like strong, saturated prints that match what I see on the screen, and for the reasons above, I use a dye based inkjet printer. If I planned on selling inkjet prints I certainly wouldn't use that - probably switch to using a pigment based inkjet process or more traditional chemistry.

The Epson colorlife paper requires profiles for good colourmatching. The 'preview' version that is sent to the printer has a very strong magenta cast to it, which is evened out by how the paper reacts to the inks. If I do not use a profile, my prints tend to have a blueish cast and don't match the source correctly.

All this pre-supposes a correctly calibrated screen - otherwise its more of a lottery than anything else.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

07/22/2003 10:58:32 AM · #9

Originally posted by pitsaman:

I use Office depot 10.2 mil glossy paper,extremely white,I paid 40$for 100 sheet,which is cheapest in the stores IMO!

That is 40 cents per page...

I had bad luck with the office depot premium glossy. All my black and whites turned green just after a few days under flourescent light (in my office) and the color images faded rather quickly as well... mine were done using an HP printer and ink...

inspzil

Olympus E-510

Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX APO RF HSM for Olympus

07/22/2003 11:08:08 AM · #10

For most of my stuff I use Kodak Premium Glossy paper and have great results. I bought some Kodak Ultima when it was get 15 sheets free and I've noticed that it works about the same as the premium on everything except skin. I like it because it's heavier duty than the premium. Anything with people I do on premium, everything else on ultima.

You can get it pretty cheap too at Sam's Club. Its about $19/75 sheets for 8-1/2x11 and 13.33/100 sheets for 4x6.

Good luck! - Bob

goodtempo

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

07/22/2003 11:52:35 AM · #11

Dale,

What is gas fading? And where can I read these reports?

I've also heard that you can clear coat a print to make it water resistant. I'll have to email my PS course instructor to find out what he said would work.

Epson claims their current inks and paper will last 20-30 years or more.
Of course, these inks and papers haven't been around that long so who knows if it will last that long.

(edit)I've also found that the Epson inks I use don't do well at all on cheap Kodak paper.

Originally posted by dwoolridge:

Message edited by author 2003-07-22 11:53:37.

pitsaman

Canon EOS-30D

07/22/2003 12:39:01 PM · #12

I was only talking pricewise,but quality of the prints isn't great,black parts are kind of greenish!

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by pitsaman:
I use Office depot 10.2 mil glossy paper,extremely white,I paid 40$for 100 sheet,which is cheapest in the stores IMO!

That is 40 cents per page...

I had bad luck with the office depot premium glossy. All my black and whites turned green just after a few days under flourescent light (in my office) and the color images faded rather quickly as well... mine were done using an HP printer and ink...

07/22/2003 12:39:24 PM · #13

Originally posted by goodtempo:

Dale,
I've also heard that you can clear coat a print to make it water resistant. I'll have to email my PS course instructor to find out what he said would work.

Epson claims their current inks and paper will last 20-30 years or more.
Of course, these inks and papers haven't been around that long so who knows if it will last that long.

(

I use Bulldog Ultra Spray to coat my prints that I want to last a bit longer. ( //www.inkjetart.com/misc/index.html )

Most people are using dye based inks that have lifetimes of a few years (Epson 2200 is one of the few that uses the pigment inks I think, which are rated up to about 100 years when stored correctly - much longer than most traditional chemistry photos will last)

HP inks/ papers seem to be rated between 3 and 15 years, depending on paper choices

Check out //www.wilhelm-research.com/ for lots of info on accelerated fading tests and how the lifetime claims are measured.

//www.wilhelm-research.com/pdf/is_t/Wilhelm_IS_T_Paper_Feb2002.pdf is a good start. It also explains that 'gas-fading' is interaction with air born pollutants. It is interesting to note the large impact that drying approach can have on the lifetime of an inkjet print too.

Message edited by author 2003-07-22 12:59:31.

dwoolridge

07/22/2003 01:03:23 PM · #14

Originally posted by goodtempo:

What is gas fading? And where can I read these reports?

Gas fading usually refers to colour shifting (cyan fading I believe) from contaminants in the air (pollution/smog). Most of the time, ozone is mentioned quite frequently, but I imagine this is because it is so common/easily produced. This report is probably a good (enough) reference on the subject. People living in large cities who leave their windows open will probably notice the problem quickly. I'm not sure if the "kitchen test" is quite as bad though.

Ozone is quite harmful in general and homes/offices don't generally provide adequate ventilation near ozone producing devices (the dreaded laserjet). If you have one, stick a plant where the ozone is expelled; it has about the same effect on your lungs.

Originally posted by goodtempo:

I've also heard that you can clear coat a print to make it water resistant. I'll have to email my PS course instructor to find out what he said would work.

Yeah, the link I provided earlier (the livick.com one) has information on coatings/laminates.

Originally posted by goodtempo:

Epson claims their current inks and paper will last 20-30 years or more.
Of course, these inks and papers haven't been around that long so who knows if it will last that long.

I think the claims don't take into account gas fading, although some paper manufacturers are starting to acknowledge the problem (as Ilford does about their Smooth papers).

Edit: Here's a non-Wilhelm report on gas fading as well.

Message edited by author 2003-07-22 13:11:45.