What is your favorite paper?

[deezeljuice]

What paper do you find yourself going to the most? And produces the prints that you like the most?
I am trying out different papers, satin, matte, glossy and super glossy. The one thing I have found out, is do not buy the cheap stuff. I picked up a pack from Fry's, 'premium' glossy for about $2.99. Seemed like such a bargain. I've tried about 4 sheets and I'm going to throw the rest away. It's total crap.
My personal fave so far is the Kodak medium weight (51 lb) matte. The prints are so good looking. Doesn't matter what the subject, wildlife, scenics, they all look good.
I also picked up a pack of the satin (59 lb). It's pretty good, but I prefer the look of the matte so far. Have not yet tried the Kodak High gloss paper yet. Has anyone else? So far, I have only tried the Kodak papers. I have heard the Epson papers are quite good.

I would like to hear what some of you are using and how you like the results you are getting.

[robertwgross]

I have an Epson 1270, and it does quite well with Epson papers. I've tried Kodak and the cheap ones, but I get the most consistent results with Epson:

1. Epson Premium Luster
2. Epson Premium Semigloss
3. Epson Premium Glossy
4. Epson Colorlife
5. Epson Photo Quality (flat white)

I go through about three or four color cartridges and one black cartridge per month, but I don't count the paper packages.

---Bob Gross---

[mkatona]

All in all Epson Premium Luster is one fine paper. I try and use it for almost everything.

[Malaxos1]

Fuji Crystal Arcive. I never print my own, I use Wal-Marts Fuji Frontier. At .23 for a 4x6 you can't get a better print. It cost more to do it at home and there isn't a home printer that can match it. I downloaded the calibration and what I see on my monitor is exactly what I get.

[defordphoto]

When it comes to inkjets, unless you have tested a particular paper, the printers pretty much perform their best with their own manufacturers papers. The option would be Kodak. I am absolutely sure there are some awesome papers out there, but you're always safe with OEM papers.

[robertwgross]

Malaxos1 wrote:
Fuji Crystal Arcive. I never print my own, I use Wal-Marts Fuji Frontier. At .23 for a 4x6 you can't get a better print. It cost more to do it at home and there isn't a home printer that can match it. I downloaded the calibration and what I see on my monitor is exactly what I get.

If I figure in my own time value and what it would cost me to drive round trip to Wal-Mart, then my own inkjet is much cheaper.

---Bob Gross---

[aberdeen]

Hi!

I have an Epson 2200 Stylus and have had the opportunity to try a great many papers, both inexpensive and not-so-inexpensive. There is value in the statement to go with OEM papers, to which I would say that I like Epson's Luster E and Semi-Gloss as well as the matte papers.

However, there is another paper that I have really become fond of for the average photo shoot and that is the Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl Paper. It's heavy, consistent, and very friendly to my printer. It is quite a bit cheaper than the Luster E paper and I can buy it in 250 sheet reams at an even bigger discount!

Glossy papers are really fussy with the 2200. If you need to go glossy, stick with the OEM papers.

[robertwgross]

aberdeen wrote:
Glossy papers are really fussy with the 2200.


Yes, I've read that a lot. The Epson 2200 seems to do better with matte and flat papers, but the high gloss ones don't do so well. One close friend said the same thing, so he uses only the Epson heavy matte on his 2200.

Papers are odd. The matte-style paper has more potential paper fibers sticking up. My theory is that that could lead to more cartridge clog problems. I use mostly glossier papers on my 1270, and then I don't have any clog problems at all. So, it is not a carefully controlled experiment. It is just an anecdote.

---Bob Gross---

[eos10dmacosx]

Ilford Smooth Pearl Paper - 280 gsm

[john_houghton]

deezeljuice wrote: The one thing I have found out, is do not buy the cheap stuff.

Depends on what you mean by "cheap stuff". Ilford Classic Pearl at 26p/sheet (A4) is a lot cheaper than Epson Colorlife at 56p/sheet and appears to be the same Swiss paper. I gather that HP Premium Photo Plus (also Swiss) at 48p/sheet is the same too.

John

[ilya]

I use Canon papers for my Canon S900, and mostly Photo Paper Pro (88 iso).

But I would be curious if others found better/cheaper paper for their canons.

[scottbergerphoto]

aberdeen wrote:
Hi!

I have an Epson 2200 Stylus and have had the opportunity to try a great many papers, both inexpensive and not-so-inexpensive. There is value in the statement to go with OEM papers, to which I would say that I like Epson's Luster E and Semi-Gloss as well as the matte papers.

However, there is another paper that I have really become fond of for the average photo shoot and that is the Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl Paper. It's heavy, consistent, and very friendly to my printer. It is quite a bit cheaper than the Luster E paper and I can buy it in 250 sheet reams at an even bigger discount!

Glossy papers are really fussy with the 2200. If you need to go glossy, stick with the OEM papers.



The Epson 2200 will work well with any of the Epson Premium Papers. I suggest that you make sure that the Epson Printer ICC Profiles located on the Epson Install CD in the PIM folder are copied to your hard drive to the folder that has your ICC profiles: C:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\color. These ICC profiles are not automatically installed with the printer driver. Then in Photoshop or PS Elements 2.0 in Print Preview choose the Epson ICC Profile for the Epson Paper you are using as your OUTPUT. Your SOURCE is the color space you shot the image in, sRGB or Adobe RGB( 1998 ). In the Epson printer driver, make sure you select the appropriate paper selection, and then select "No Color Management" in the ADVANCED section. This will tell the printer to use the ICC profile you told it to in Photoshop.
If you have calibrated you monitor, this will give you a fully color managed system. Your prints will match your monitor. Voila!
Scott

[PaulB]

deezeljuice wrote:
What paper do you find yourself going to the most?


The Times

[robertwgross]

PaulB wrote:
deezeljuice wrote:
What paper do you find yourself going to the most?

The Times

My cat goes there all the time.

---Bob Gross---

[boBquincy]

Bob, you can't mention your cat without attaching a photo of him(her).
I thought cat photos were mandatory in this group! ;)


As for paper, I use Office Depot Photo for everyday prints, Ilford Smooth Pearl for prints that go in the scrapbook (covered by plastic), and Ilford Classic Pearl for prints that are framed.

boB

[Malaxos1]

robertwgross wrote:
Malaxos1 wrote:
Fuji Crystal Arcive. I never print my own, I use Wal-Marts Fuji Frontier. At .23 for a 4x6 you can't get a better print. It cost more to do it at home and there isn't a home printer that can match it. I downloaded the calibration and what I see on my monitor is exactly what I get.

If I figure in my own time value and what it would cost me to drive round trip to Wal-Mart, then my own inkjet is much cheaper.

---Bob Gross---


Wal-Mart is 4 miles from my house. I quess if you have to travel far. I used to do it myself until I met a pro who told me that no matter how good his printer is his clients can always tell the difference and they are not happy. It doesn't matter how good the photo, they feel that they could have done it themselves...Dean

[Belmondo]

robertwgross wrote:
PaulB wrote:
deezeljuice wrote:
What paper do you find yourself going to the most?

The Times

My cat goes there all the time.

---Bob Gross---


I'll bet his favorite section is 'Litters to the Editor.' :)

[mwinog2777]

For bulk printing I use Canon matte. For prints I keep and frame: Canon Paper Pro

I use Canon i950. Does anyone have experience with this and Ilford paper?

[HeatherJL]

I also have the Canon i950 and have found that Canon paper works best. I usually use Photo Paper Pro, unless I have a large volume, then I use Canon Matte Photo Paper.

[iwatkins]

With my Canon i9100 I prefer the Canon Matte paper for A4 prints but the Olmec (ICI) Matte paper for A3 (to be framed).

Still haven't tired the Ilford papers, but will do soon.

Cheers

Ian

[Longwatcher]

I refer you all to my paper test posts I did I while back.

results
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=19446

first results
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7345

Quick recap:
Using a Canon S9000 with BCI-6 ink set (should be same results on all of the 9-series printers).
Canon fades in office flourescent lights if not coated.
Kodak Ultima paper works great for me
Epson Matte paper works fine
Ilford is best for harsh environments without coating
Office Depot paper is okay, but needs work.
HP paper is not good for the Canon BCI-6 ink set.

Hope it helps,