Kodak vs Epson papers

I've just received an Epson Stylus Photo R3000, and I would like opinions on the type of professional paper to use, mainly color prints. Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper versus Kodak Professional.

Any preferences?

My experience with Kodak papers has been awful. I've only used Epson papers a couple of times. My favorites, in order, are:

• Harmon FB Al Glossy Warmtone ($$$, fiber-based, aluminum coat, for my B&W; has a great dmax)
  
• Innova Fibaprint Gloss White ($$, fiber-based, great for color)
  
• Red River Arctic Polar Luster ($, most of my general printing)
  

I am a fan of Ilford Galerie papers and Hahnemühle paper. Both provide profiles for most of the popular printers which saves the time of having to build your own.

I have tried Kodak paper and while the results were OK, they didn't compare with the papers above. My only experience with Epson papers is I got a sample pack at a conference that I attended and again, it was fine but I have just stayed with my preferred papers.

I believe the key is to find a paper that works for you and then stick with it and master its use. If one person likes paper X, doesn't mean that you will. A little trial and error testing will help you decide for yourself with your paper.

I use Ilford Smooth Pearl, they aren't professional lab prints but they have the same feel and look for the price. I use them with a pro 9000 and a sypder 3 calibrator, works together all pretty well.

ssim wrote in post #12104772
I am a fan of Ilford Galerie papers and Hahnemühle paper. Both provide profiles for most of the popular printers which saves the time of having to build your own.

I have tried Kodak paper and while the results were OK, they didn't compare with the papers above. My only experience with Epson papers is I got a sample pack at a conference that I attended and again, it was fine but I have just stayed with my preferred papers.

I believe the key is to find a paper that works for you and then stick with it and master its use. If one person likes paper X, doesn't mean that you will. A little trial and error testing will help you decide for yourself with your paper.

Thansk for these replies. I bought a pack of Ilford and Hahnemuhle papers for my Epson R3000. How can I get ICC codes for these papers? From the two paper companies?

Go to their (the paper people's) Web sites -- they should list supported printers and have the profiles to download for them. I know nothing about the R3000 so don't know if it has support, but they either will support it or could offer a suggested approach for choosing a paper profile. So if you can't find your printer listed the thing to do would be to look around and email their support if needed.

Thanks, Tony.

Experience with Kodak is limited to self adhesive glossy poly poster. OK is all I'll say about it, a fair number of scratches straight from the printer although a years old Epson A3 page we has spare printed near perfect despite being in storage for ages. Little desire to try Kodak again.

Hal55

Boy, that was fast. I just emailed Hahnemuehle last night and already have an email from them sayinjg that they are working on the ICC for the Epson R3000 and will upload it very soon to their site. Also got an automated response from Ilford. Seem to be class acts, both of them.

Don't forget that in addition to the icc profiles, you need the recommended media type setting.

ChasP505 wrote in post #12168818
Don't forget that in addition to the icc profiles, you need the recommended media type setting.

I assume you mean the specific type of photo paper in this instance?

We use Epson Premium Luster & Premium Glossy almost exclusively (sheets & rolls), occasionally Velvet Fine Art paper sheets, all on Epson printers (R1800 & 4800).

No complaints.

tvphotog wrote in post #12169186
I assume you mean the specific type of photo paper in this instance?

The paper manufacturers/supplier​s provide you with 3 important things:

The icc profile.
The media type setting for the printer driver.
Any additional settings to the printer driver or printing application.

I have a R3000 also having upgraded from an R1800. I have tried almost every paper in existance from the Good the Bad and the Ugly on my R1800 and now doing same on r3000!....Kodak are at the bottom of my choice list along with most of the generic papers available. For general photographic work at the top of my choice list is Epson paper. Epson paper is made / calipered etc specifically to Epson Ink Jet technology used in their printers and this makes all the difference when viewing prints created on Epson Stock vs Kodak/Generic papers using their own ICC profiles. Basically ICC profiles that come with most of the Glossy/Semi Gloss/Matt cheap non Epson papers are marginal at best!...I hardly use them and infact have had to purchase a spectrometer to create my own ICC profiles for non epson papers. Even then its been hit and miss getting some of the Kodak and generic inkjet papers to look any good even creating my own profiles. A lot has to do with how the surface of the paper handles the laying down of the ink from the printer nozzle. . The closest I have found so far to Epson for "general" photographic work (Glossy semi Gloss and Matt ) is Ilford Galerie range. Some of these like the Smooth Pearl can be used with just the printer profile manageing the color and you get good results .

Like the OP are looking for a good second chioce to Epson Gloss, Semi Gloss and Matt papers for the R3000 as Epson are more than twice the price of the next best paper around.!

Rgds

clipper_from_oz wrote in post #12197956
I have a R3000 also having upgraded from an R1800. I have tried almost every paper in existance from the Good the Bad and the Ugly on my R1800 and now doing same on r3000!....Kodak are at the bottom of my choice list along with most of the generic papers available. For general photographic work at the top of my choice list is Epson paper. Epson paper is made / calipered etc specifically to Epson Ink Jet technology used in their printers and this makes all the difference when viewing prints created on Epson Stock vs Kodak/Generic papers using their own ICC profiles. Basically ICC profiles that come with most of the Glossy/Semi Gloss/Matt cheap non Epson papers are marginal at best!...I hardly use them and infact have had to purchase a spectrometer to create my own ICC profiles for non epson papers. Even then its been hit and miss getting some of the Kodak and generic inkjet papers to look any good even creating my own profiles. A lot has to do with how the surface of the paper handles the laying down of the ink from the printer nozzle. . The closest I have found so far to Epson for "general" photographic work (Glossy semi Gloss and Matt ) is Ilford Galerie range. Some of these like the Smooth Pearl can be used with just the printer profile manageing the color and you get good results .

Like the OP are looking for a good second chioce to Epson Gloss, Semi Gloss and Matt papers for the R3000 as Epson are more than twice the price of the next best paper around.!


Rgds

Are you using Epson's Ultra Premium Glossy/Semi/Matte?