Best paper for Saturation and detail

Hi,

I've been sampling various Hahnemühle photo papers (Fine Art Metallic, Fine Art Matte Photo Rags (Ultra, Smooth, Bamboo, etc.) along with Ilford Galerie and Epson Metallic.

I have found

1. The metallic is good for a very narrow set of photos to leverage the metallic "sheen".
2. The Ilford Smooth Pearl is good for just about anything, but as a little bit of too much shine to is under the right angle of lighting.
3. The Fine Art Matte papers do very well "not being shiny" but that's what they are for.

What my needs, or wants, seem to boil down to is:

1. Ability to retain saturated colors including dark blacks
2. Ability to retain detail on par with glossy and Luster/Smooth Pearl
3. As little gloss as possible

Which paper would you all recommend to accomplish all 3 of the above?

Thanks
T

Using which printer and ink set? Printers and inks vary widely.

I use most Moab papers with my Canon Pixma Pro 1 and its pigment inks.

I like Ilford galerie gold fibre silk 310.

Thanks,

Does that have any kind of shine to it, or is it more of a matte?

Thanks
T

More like silk.
Seriously it's more matte than the smooth pearl(which I also like and use) but with a very light sheen.

Interesting thread. I've been looking for something between a semi-gloss and a matte for more subtle images. I've decided I like the Hahnemuehle Photo Rag Satin (310gsm) the most. I it is interesting in that the is a slight sheen on the printed part, but the borders are almost matte like.

In side by side comparisons and feedback from others, a close second was Moab Juniper Baryta Rag (305gsm). It has a bit more sheen, but not glossy. And the sheen shows in printed and unprinted areas.

Both have nice, random, texture.

Oh, on a Canon Pro-100 printer.

I use Epson Cold Press Bright. It's a textured matte paper. ==> https://epson.com …ss-Bright-Paper/m/S042311

Another vote for Ilford GFS.

Only works with pigment inks, however.

With dye inks, I prefer Ilford Smooth Gallerie Pearl, but you already said it was too shiny for your taste.

I began printing again and am happy so far with the results of simple Canon Semi-Gloss and the Ilford Smooth Pearl. The finer papers became a lot to keep track of with all the samples.

I think the ones I liked the best from Moab Hahnemühle Photo Rag and Hahnemühle Bamboo Fine Art, but I don't know if putting them behind glass makes sense.

Can anyone recommend a 'process' or printer who uses this paper but can mount it in a way that it is not under glass??

The paper texture seems to nice to obscure through a reflective surface.

Thanks
~T

I've been using the Red River papers with a Canon Pro-1000. Love them and great service from Red River. Arctic Polar satin, Polar luster metallic, and Palo duro satin are my favorites.

Thanks for the reference...I'll check them out.

I'm also thinking of having a 3rd party print my fine art matte papers. i would really like them to NOT be under glass, but not really sure how to go about that...I know the 3rd party printers (Bay Photo, etc.) can do it quite nicely on a variety of methods and substrates.

Any ideas would be appreciated for DIY, No glass mounting, framing...

Thanks
CD