Photo Paper

I have a Pixma Pro 100, I have been printing with the Semi Gloss paper that came with the printer, and it seems fine. But I am curious about other options and started trying to read a little bit, and there are lots of options out there and I don't know enough (I don't know anything actually) to know what means something, what features don't really mean much. I see different weights, I see pounds, I see GSM, I see different surfaces and cotton and so on. So - is there such a thing as a site that would be a Photo Papers for Dummies? Kind of a primer on all this stuff?

And - if anyone has a favorite paper, feel free to toss it out here. One other question - Are there any papers that are particularly good for black and white, or do most papers print black and white and color equally well?

I have the Pro10 and love the results. Great printers. I prefer the Canon Luster for color and heavier, matte papers for B&W.

I'm not really a fan of Gloss or Semi-Gloss.

Red River Paper is a good source of information, and quality paper.
https://www.redriverca​talog.com/

Canson Infinity makes my favorite paper for B&W (Infinity Rag Photographique)...
https://www.canson-infinity.com …oducts/rag-photographique
https://www.canson-infinity.com/en

I've also had great luck with MOAB Entrada Rag...
https://www.moabpaper.​com/entrada-rag

Convert from Standard American English Pounds (lbs) to Metric Grams/Square Meter (gsm).

1lb. of Text paper = 1.48 gsm. Multiply each pound of text paper by 1.48. 1 lb.

https://okpaper.com …/calculators/ca​lc-lbs-gsm

210 to 310gsm are very common in high quality papers.

I was poking around on YouTube and found this one. For anyone else who doesn't know anything, he gets into different types of paper (not different brands). He is one of those ambassador types, for Canson in this case, so he talks about that paper, but I think a lot of it's general that applies to any photo paper.


https://youtu.be/LqE8F​BiDLwE?t=1853

Robert is very knowledgeable and a great photographer. He also has videos demonstrating matting and framing. Check them out.

FarmerTed1971 wrote in post #19069374
Robert is very knowledgeable and a great photographer. He also has videos demonstrating matting and framing. Check them out.

I did watch one of them, and then that one led me to his B&H video. He shows his print studio earlier in that video - if only, very cool looking.

(now I need to take some photos I want to print)

I'm also using a Pro 100.

I would suggest getting some sample kits. I know Red River has them, and I would expect most other suppliers do also. Make sure you download and use the correct profiles for the papers you're trying.

That said, I think it's a good idea to settle on one or two papers you like. Like FarmerTed I like Canon Luster, and while I have used matte for black & white I've pretty much settled on the luster for everything.

If I only had one paper... it would probably be Canon Luster.

Somewhat related - I pulled out an unopened ink cartridge tonight, bought it a few years ago and then stopped printing. The package says use by July of 2018. Does ink actually go bad? The ink currently in the printer is at least as old as the unopened cartridge and seems to be fine. Hate to screw up a print with bad ink, but hate to toss a full ink cartridge away if it's fine.

Look in the translucent panel on the side and shake it around a bit. If it's still liquid and the sponge area where it comes out is still wet I'd say you are probably just fine using it.

FarmerTed1971 wrote in post #19072612
Look in the translucent panel on the side and shake it around a bit. If it's still liquid and the sponge area where it comes out is still wet I'd say you are probably just fine using it.

Thanks. Still looks runny, so I'll hang on to it.

Checked your Flickr page, looks like you were down in the action a little bit, hopefully you weren't gassed or whacked by anyone.

Needed to get out and shoot... been way TOO long. I was home by curfew.

FarmerTed1971 wrote in post #19069583
If I only had one paper... it would probably be Canon Luster.

Add me to the list as I have the Canon PRO-10 as well.
Have been getting great results with it since I bought the printer now seven years ago. Just printed yesterday as a matter of fact.

Nick5 wrote in post #19072799
Add me to the list as I have the Canon PRO-10 as well.
Have been getting great results with it since I bought the printer now seven years ago. Just printed yesterday as a matter of fact.

When I bought the printer it came with the Canon Semi-Gloss, which seems fine, but maybe when I run out I'll try the Luster.

I did just pick up one of those sampler packs for Moab. Printed some of that cotton rag baryta etc stuff, really flattens out the image, sort of what you'd see if you moved the saturation and contrast sliders to the left on your photo. Fine for certain photos, I guess, not really the look I want though. Moab Luster did look pretty sharp.

Try B&W on the Moab. It sings.