Epson Luster or Canon Semi-Gloss for K3 Inks

Hi all,

I own the new Epson 4800 and I have been printing 4x6 and 5x7 prints on a roll with my other large sizes all together. I find it difficult and very time consuming to cut them and I always end up with a stack of pictures that are not all the exact same size. I have been using Epson Luster paper and I like it a lot. (I don't like glossy)

Now, I came up with the idea of printing the 4x6 and 5x7s on an already cut paper on my new EPSON R2400 that I bought only for that reason. I can now print borderless 4x6, 5x7 that I couldn't do with the Epson 4800.

My question is... since the Epson luster does not come in 4x6 and 5x7 can I get the same archival results from the Canon Semi-gloss (photo paper plus semi-gloss)? I have printed on both and they look identical (using the same ICC) Does anyone knows if the prints will last the same or close to the prints on the luster?

I am using original epson inks.
I am not sure in general if I can get the same print and colour lifetime with different than epson papers.

What other papers can give me that luster look and feel?

Please advice.

Thanks!
Tassos

I use Epson Premium Luster paper a lot on my very old Epson printer.

This may seem like an odd solution, but it works for me.

I buy my paper in standard 8.5"x11" packs. I want to print and get something around the size of 5"x7". So, I put the paper in the printer and then in the printer driver, I select it to print the wrong way, portrait or landscape. In other words, if I have a photo image that is supposed to be portrait, then I print it on the left half of a landscape page of paper. Once it comes out, then I flip it around 180 degrees and print something else the same way. This effectively gives me two prints on one 8.5"x11" sheet. Then, I make one cut with a paper printer, right through the center, and I am done. The problem is that with a normal 3:2 aspect ratio on most photo images, the print will have some wider margin edges, but at least the half-page photo prints all stack to the same size. If I am putting matting over the print, then the unprinted margins won't show anyway.

---Bob Gross---

What about freephotopaper.com?
I have read good reviews... would you consider their paper an option for a portrait studio?

Early in my experience with Epson, I fooled around with all sorts of cheap photo papers. I would get lured to the cheap ones, and then I would get all sorts of lousy and mixed results. As time went by, I migrated over to some Kodak Ultima and other similar papers, but I was never completely happy with them. Finally I ended up in the Epson arena, and I use mostly Premium Luster, some Premium Glossy, and some flat photo grade Epson paper for large maps and calendars. I have all of my profiles and special profiles and drivers and stuff, and frankly, I don't feel like fooling around with more paper experiments. The ink is too expensive for experiments.

---Bob Gross---

Thanks Robert I appreciate your input on this.