miscellaneous notes on Canon BCI-6 INK versus paper

[Longwatcher]

Well I am finally done testing my S9000 printer, Canon OEM inks (BCI-6 ink set) and various paper; at least to my satisfaction.

The winner is.....
No clear winner.

For overall best use in harsh conditions: Ilford gallerie Pearl and Gloss (Runner up HP glossy, which also wins for least fading in the sun - now if i could only get a good print using it)

For overall best color and probable longevity in properly stored conditions: Kodak Ultima Satin and High Gloss (runner up Ilford)

For best B+W matte: Epson Photo matte (runner up Canon photo Pro

For best price versus quality when longevity is not important: Office Depot glossy. (Kodak is runner up, but only because it is almost always on sale when I need it)

For best looking after coating paper with inkjet protection coating: Canon Photo paper.

And now the negative awards:
For fastest to fade in the office: Canon photo pro paper
For fastest destroyed in the sun: Kodak Ultima
For most fading in sun light: office depot
For worst print straight from the printer: HP (mainly for frequent smearing)
For worst after coating: Office Depot - note though that three coats made all papers just as good/bad.


A bit about the awards...
Except for best/worst looking after coating, all awards are based on uncoated prints.
All prints used the same image.
All were printed with the same set of ink on the same day (within 2 hours from start to finish).

This was a subjective test done in Southeastern Virginia and your results will differ based on atmospheric aerosols and pollutants, proximity to the ocean, type of flouresent bulbs, time of year, humidity and the UV coating on your back window of your car :-)

I was hoping I would find one really good paper, but at least with the BCI-6 ink set, I need different papers depending on what I am doing with them. I still like the Kodak Ultima papers the best as my standard, but will use Ilford if the prints will be displayed in harse conditions and Epson Matte when doing Black and White prints. The only thing I will use Canon paper for is the 13x19" prints since I almost always spray coat them, which seems to make the difference on all papers.

Just my opinion and subjective testing.

Trivia: I am considering upgrading my printer so I can do borderless 13x19" prints, but have to finish paying off my lenses first.

[John_T]

Thanks for your efforts there Tom. I'm scratching my head too. I have the i9100. Plus an HP5550C gathering dust. Dumped everything else. I'm using Canon, Ilford and Tetenal papers. What looks best depends on the photo content.

With all I've tried and all I've read I only come up with the following constants:

- It seems pigment inks last longer than dye.
- It appears dye prints better than pigment.
- Paper acidity is a no-no.
- Your results will be considerably different whether you are printing in LA, the Alps or the jungles of Sulawesi.

My biggest interest at the moment is what Canon is cooking in their ink kitchen. There was a rumour a while back they were coming out with higher cost fine art pigment inks.

As for the rest, I just see "experts" promoting one brand over the other.

[hpatlik]

I have a Canon820D (BCI-6) and I have been using Epson Glossy Photo Paper which I think looks better (and cost a lot less) than canon paper pro. I tried the Kodal inkjet photo paper and find they are substandard to Epson or Canon.

[Longwatcher]

Note that Kodak makes three levels of photo paper.
- Photo paper
- Premium photo paper
- Ultima photo paper

I don't care much for Regular or Premium paper (no better then Office depot), but I like the Ultima stuff and that is what I tested against.

If unsure, Kodak Ultima has gold/yellow printing on back, Premium has silver/grey. I can't remember what regular paper has.

If speaking about Kodak paper, please specify which type, it makes a huge difference.

[regjones]

John_T wrote:
...
My biggest interest at the moment is what Canon is cooking in their ink kitchen. There was a rumour a while back they were coming out with higher cost fine art pigment inks.

....


Very interesting. Could you expand on where and what you heard, John_T about Canon "higher cost fine art pigment inks"?

Here's a thread that suggests there will be an improvement in Canon ink and/or paper sometime early next year:

http://www.photo-i.co.uk/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.pl?s=3fb3caec0e75ffff;act=ST;f=35;t=81;s t=30

BTW, Vincent has a great site in general. Sort of a smaller DPR for photo printers etc.

Related to photo print fading have you all seen this site:

http://www.livick.com/method/inkjet/pg2d.htm

Interested to hear your thoughts, Longwatcher. As someone who is waiting to buy a photo printer but is concered about fading issues your post helps. Could you expand on "...I almost always spray coat them, which seems to make the difference on all papers". Spray with what? Approx. how much of a benefit (months or years longer in longevity)? Cost? etc.


Excellent stuff!

Reg

[Longwatcher]

When I coat the prints, I use some stuff called "lumijet" which is a spray coat recommended by the local camera shop for inkjet prints. While I have learned not to trust this particular camera shop when it comes to digital realm, they seem to be correct as to it working. I know there are some other types of spray coating that should work as well, but I tend to stick with what I know works.

As to increased longevity, a single coating did not seem to help much in the 'back window of the car" test, but it made a huge difference in the office test (I have not seen a change in the print yet (12 months and counting). Since I have noted that Canon paper is the worst in the office, spraying Canon paper makes the most difference on my prints in office light. (like 6 weeks without, 12+ months with)

It also significantly helped protect the print against moisture and water drops. One coat gave it some resistance against color bleed, three coats seemed to make it almost water reppellant.

It also provides some protection if I need to clean the dust off it.

According to the research I have done, all of the inkjet papers are somewhat porous to allow the ink to get behind the coating. The spray covers these openings in the paper and makes it less porous. Three coats probably gives it a complete seal.

I remember my Dad sometimes used a spray to coat regular darkroom prints sometimes as the last step in the process to protect the touch-ups he had done to the prints, so this is not a new thing that has to be done.

Hope that helped,

[regjones]

Thanks, that does help.

Was the "lumijet" an aerosol spray? Did it change the look of the photo (eg if matte did it give it a glossy look at all?). Your description of the effects of the office are interesting and possibly confirm what I've heard before about the effects of gases such as ozone (photocopiers?) as opposed to sunlight on canon prints.


John_T or anyone else: any word on the new canon inks and or paper mentioned in my post above?

[Gibmeister]

Tim,

This is great information that you have accumulated on the different photo papers with the Canon S9000. I also have this printer and I love the quaility of the prints. I was wondering since you seem to enjoy this testing stuff if you were going to test different brands of UV Sealers? I found the Lumijet on the internet at B&H but they won't ship it. I found it at another place for $20.00. Locally they don't sell this brand but they do have a product by Krylon called Preserve It for $5.00 and a product by 1 Shot called speed dry for $8.00.

Gib

[Longwatcher]

Lumijet is an aerosol spray can. Use in ventilated area.

One coat did not seem to change the look of the print (or at least not significantly)
Glossy stayed glossy.
Satin finish remained satin looking.
Matte, did gain a slight satin look to it, but the one coat still gave it a matte look.

Three coats on the other hand almost always give it a glossy look to the print, but not quite as shiny (really close though). This is why I prefer single coating matte or satin prints when possible.

No I have no intention of testing other sprays, I found one that worked and other then water resistance or cost, I don't feel the need to do any testing.

Since usually my prints go into binders and I use Kodak Ultima paper (except for 13x19 size), I don't feel the same need to coat the prints on a regular basis so the two cans I have will last for awhile. If I sprayed a lot, then I might feel the need to test some cheaper products.

I did the testing on the different papers for two reasons.

1. The Canon paper changed noticeably in less then 6 weeks in my office, while the Kodak paper didn't, so I decided I needed to find a paper that worked the best with my printer (or if they all failed, then get the Epson)

2. I occasionally suffer from obsessive/compulsive desease (usually mild) and I HAD to figure out why one paper had problems, but the other didn't.

If at some point in the future I HAVE to figure out which spray is best, I will so a similiar test until I am satisfied.

As to B+H shipping, I suspect that Lumijet is on a hazardous materials list, which requires extra handling. The last time I ordered something via mail order which required extra handling I had to pay an extra $20 for shipping, so I ordered all I thought I would ever need before it would go bad. You may be able to call B+H if you needed to and get them to ship, but it would take a verbal call. However, If your local hobby or office supply store has similiar stuff that is cheaper try that out first.

Hopefully I answered the questions,