Epson Photo Printers - Recommended Photo Paper

[oak3x]

Hi,

I currently own an Epson R800 Photo Printer

For those who use an Epson Photo Printers, what are some of the Photographic Papers you recommend? I particularly do not care for Gloss finish...

Is it necessary to use Epson Papers with the R800?

[Zansho]

I've used Epson Premium Luster Photopaper with some great results. I also recommend trying Hahnemuhle paper, it comes in all kinds of types, from canvas to fine art paper, really cool stuff if you're doing landscape or portrait photos. Moab is another great paper source as well, and Ilford too.

It all really depends on the look you're going for :) It's not necessary to use Epson papers with Epson printers, just like it's not required to use canon made lenses on canon bodies (you can use tamron, sigma...).

[tgara]

I've used the Glossy and Semi-glossy photo papers from Epson. The final output from my R1900 looks just like a photo made the old fashioned way with chemicals.

As for papers other than Epson, you of course can use them. However, be sure to download the correct ICC color profiles for each type of paper you plan to use so the printer will know how to apply its ink to that particular paper. There should be at least one ICC profile for each paper -- check the paper manufacturers website for these ICC profiles.

[Tony-S]

I'm a big fan of Red River's Arctic Polar Satin. Also, Ilford's Galerie Pearl is nice, too. Most importantly they have color profiles for your printer, thus, and provided your display is properly calibrated, you'll get spot-on colors on your prints.

[BoySpot]

Another big user of Ilford Smooth Pearl here!

[sapearl]

I will second Zansho's vote for the Epson Premium Luster paper. It is terrific stuff - gloss, but some thing that goes beyond gloss with a shallow surface tooth that gives color a greater depth and vibrance in my opinion. It reminds me of the old "J" surface paper I believe of my darkroom days.

I will use gloss for contact/proof sheets if I want to provide the client with some sort of index, but I'm just not wild about it for my exhibition prints.

The Espon Fine Art Velvet Paper is also top notch. Think matt surface, but with almost a velvetty sort of fuzzy surface, nice and white, that really soaks up the ink but gives your great blacks, and wonderful colors. I just delivered several prints to a museum exhibit in which they'll be exhibited and they were printed on this stock.

Like Zansho says, other stock will work quite well with the Epson printer. You just have to make sure that you have the profile properly loaded on the machine so the printer knows how to handle it with the appropriate amount of ink.

Hahnemuhle and Moab are excellent - I've just been too lazy to explore the technique of getting other vendor profiles for my R1800, and learning how to use them. Perhaps when things slow down a little this winter I will do that.

I've used Epson Premium Luster Photopaper with some great results. I also recommend trying Hahnemuhle paper, it comes in all kinds of types, from canvas to fine art paper, really cool stuff if you're doing landscape or portrait photos. Moab is another great paper source as well, and Ilford too.

It all really depends on the look you're going for :) It's not necessary to use Epson papers with Epson printers, just like it's not required to use canon made lenses on canon bodies (you can use tamron, sigma...).

[sapearl]

Tony, I've heard terrific things about the Red River products as well as Ilford's Galerie Pearl. How do you feel they compare in quality/price to the Epson Fine Art Velvet and other Epson products? That's probably another direction I should explore in my spare time.....:rolleyes:

I'm a big fan of Red River's Arctic Polar Satin. Also, Ilford's Galerie Pearl is nice, too. Most importantly they have color profiles for your printer, thus, and provided your display is properly calibrated, you'll get spot-on colors on your prints.

[Tony-S]

Unfortch, I've never tried the Epson papers. They don't seem to make color profiles for my Canon printer. :)

I love the weight of the Ilford Galerie, but the Red River Arctic papers are substantially brighter. Can't tell you much about the life expectancy, though - my oldest prints from these papers are only 3 years.

[I26]

Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl Paper, better than Epson Luster IMO. I do alot of 4x6 prints, so to save money I take a few sheets of 13x19 and cut it down to size with my paper trimmer and save $4.75 per 30 4x6's. One box of 4x6 Ilford costs $8.

[oak3x]

Thanks to all for your suggestions...

Now, the next question...Downloading the ICC Color Profiles of these papers.

For example, I just ordered a packet of the Red River Arctic Satin to try.

Went to their web site and downloaded the ICC Color Profiles for this paper. Question is:

Should I see this photo paper choice indicated when I am working in my R800 Preference Application?

Unfortunately, I do not... I continue to see the choices of the Epson Papers only.

Thanks

[tgara]

Thanks to all for your suggestions...

Now, the next question...Downloading the ICC Color Profiles of these papers.

For example, I just ordered a packet of the Red River Arctic Satin to try.

Went to their web site and downloaded the ICC Color Profiles for this paper. Question is:

Should I see this photo paper choice indicated when I am working in my R800 Preference Application?

Unfortunately, I do not... I continue to see the choices of the Epson Papers only.

Thanks

What processing program are you using? I'm using Aperture, and when you select "Print" the dialog box that pops up has several setting parameters, including a ColorSync profile. I select the proper ICC profile from there.

[oak3x]

All I am using now is DPP

[Tony-S]

Went to their web site and downloaded the ICC Color Profiles for this paper. Question is:

Should I see this photo paper choice indicated when I am working in my R800 Preference Application?

Unfortunately, I do not... I continue to see the choices of the Epson Papers only.

I can't help you with Windows (but others will), but if you're on a Macintosh, this profile needs to be put in:

Macintosh HD/Library/ColorSync/Profiles

Restart DPP and you should be able to find it in its print dialog box ("Print with detailed settings"; see attachment) or any other application.