Best photo paper to use in the I960 printer?

[macgvyer]

What is the best photo paper and settings to use in my i960 printer?
I've been using Kodak Professional Inkjet Photo paper - Lustre. Is the paper from Ilford better or Canon paper?

Is there also a setting that I should be using in photoshop CS2 for printing out these photos?

Thank you
Corey

[etaf]

i found with my canon bjc8200 it worked best with canon pro paper
and on my HP a huge difference in quality using HP paper

[In Hoc Up2 Eyeballs]

Canon=best; Office Depot and Comp USA have 2 for 1 sales
Illford=good; check their website for profiles
Kodak=fair - poor results with Canon

[Conk]

I use nothing but Canon inks and Canon paper with my i960. I've tried different paper and none even compare. However, I have heard good things about illford paper.

[J Rabin]

Luster and/or Semi Gloss are my preferred paper finishes, but I could never ever get proper color with Kodak Professional Luster. Even with Kodak profiles, it was an excercise in frustration.

I get excellent results on the cheap with Ilford Printasia Pearl, which is Ilford's cheap label version for CompUSA and discounters, and with Ilford Smooth Pearl, using Iflord i960 profile.

I also get good results with Canon's own Semi-Gloss, but it only comes in two sizes and is expensive.

I really wanted the Kodak to work, because customers are tuned to flipping a print over and seeing the Kodak label, but it just sucked in my color managed system.

I would like to hear from other users how to use Epson Pro Luster and Epson Pro Semi-Gloss on the i960 and i9900! Any folks do this can chime in?
J

[ohenry]

I like using Polar Satin from Red River Paper. They provide icc profiles for various printers so you can soft proof easily assuming your monitor properly displays correct color and tones (calibrated).

[Longwatcher]

Luster and/or Semi Gloss are my preferred paper finishes, but I could never ever get proper color with Kodak Professional Luster. Even with Kodak profiles, it was an excercise in frustration.

I really wanted the Kodak to work, because customers are tuned to flipping a print over and seeing the Kodak label, but it just sucked in my color managed system.


I found I got better results by ignoring the Kodak supplied profiles, they don't seem to work for me, I just use the same paper type I would use for same Canon paper and then I profiled my screen and printer.

I would highly recommend Kodak Ultima High-gloss if it didn't have that annoying word "inkjet" on the back. In the meantime, I am getting excellent results from Ilford Classic Gallerie pearl.

As to Epson Pro paper,
I used the generic settings for pro glossy on my i9900 and got great results on a recent 13x19" B+W print I printed out using Epson Pro lustre, that went for about 50% over what I thought it would get at a charity auction. I had actually expected to have to waste three sheets to get the print right, but it worked first time. I love Epson paper for B+W results.

[J Rabin]

As to Epson Pro paper,
I used the generic settings for pro glossy on my i9900 and got great results on a recent 13x19" B+W print I printed out using Epson Pro lustre, that went for about 50% over what I thought it would get at a charity auction. I had actually expected to have to waste three sheets to get the print right, but it worked first time. I love Epson paper for B+W results.

LongWatcher. Thanks. Can you, per chance, be a bit more detailed in setting printing directly from PS, using Epson Pro Lustre? Do you File>Print with Preview? I usually use Perceptual Rendering. Which have you succeeded with Epson paper?
Did you mean the Canon i9900 Photo Paper Plus Glossy profile? Did you turn off color management in the driver? I usually do.
Thanks for walking me through... if you're up for it!
Jack

[Longwatcher]

LongWatcher. Thanks. Can you, per chance, be a bit more detailed in setting printing directly from PS, using Epson Pro Lustre? Do you File>Print with Preview? I usually use Perceptual Rendering. Which have you succeeded with Epson paper?
Did you mean the Canon i9900 Photo Paper Plus Glossy profile? Did you turn off color management in the driver? I usually do.
Thanks for walking me through... if you're up for it!
Jack

Note: I am not at home so my memory may be bad.

I use file>print, which takes me to PS print option screen. For Kodak or Ilford paper which I have profiled I select the appropriate profile with perceptual rendering set by default. I otherwise turn off all color management in both PS and Canon print software. I am thinking I am forgetting a setting I check on the PS screen, but can't remember right now. However, for the Epson paper I was using generic settings, so yes i9900 Photo Paper Plus Glossy was the correct setting for Canon screen the only extra block I ticked was the greyscale printing since I knew the Canon default profile works better in this mode for B+W. I always have print w/preview from the Canon screen checked so that is where I confirm the print before printing.

I have not profiled the Epson paper because I only do 13x19 prints on rare occasions and treat each individually anyway so have not felt the need to waste a sheet or two profiling that paper yet. Also because I have some Kodak Professional 13x19 paper I want to see if it matches the 8.5x11 paper color profile and if it does, I will use that paper in the future for color prints (at least until I can get my hands on Ilford 13x19" Gallerie classic pearl paper), so the Epson was a one time purchase (and it was on sale at the time and nothing else except Canon paper (which I hated) was available)

Probably not much help for you, but that is what I can remember. I would have waited, but it will probably be at least the weekend before I use my printer again to actually record what steps I do.