paper "types" or finishes

I've been using glossy papers (mostly from Canon) and decided I want to try something with a little less shine but I don't want to go to matte. So I've been looking at Canon and Inkpress papers and find that Canon has both a semi-gloss and a satin finish. Inkpress has semi-gloss and lustre.
Can someone possibly categorize the differences between these? Also, Inkpress labels some of their papers as being RC; what's the implication of the paper being resin coated when used in an inkjet printer?
Thanks

Did you by chance look in the Inkpress site for compatibility issues with your printer and printer profiles specifically to be used with your printer? I'll let someone who knows stuff answer the RC question 'cause I know diddly, but I do know that you want to "get the goods" on how non-OEM paper works with your printer, and part of that is ensuring that they can provide a profile that you can use. Some places will tell you just to set your paper type to a particular Canon but...I'd have to do some serious testing before I could print confidently with that advice.

They say they have "custom" profiles. To me that should mean "specifically made for your printer." I think I'll write to them.
I agree with you on the "set your paper type to a particular Canon" bit.

Yeah, get more info -- there are good companies such as Red River that will provide paper with profiles specific to your printer.

Also, these profiles are actually of practical use if you are using Photoshop -- you can use them to Soft Proof. Maybe you know this already...

I got an email from Inkpress today and they say they make their own profiles for each specific printer. I think I see some Inkpress paper in my future.

tonylong wrote in post #11500165
Also, these profiles are actually of practical use if you are using Photoshop -- you can use them to Soft Proof. Maybe you know this already...

This is humor, right? I think I've spent more time softproofing with papers I don't have than with papers I have!
That's how I got turned on to Canon Pro Platinum; the softproof is almost exactly like the original with no corrections.

ncjohn wrote in post #11502801
This is humor, right? I think I've spent more time softproofing with papers I don't have than with papers I have!
That's how I got turned on to Canon Pro Platinum; the softproof is almost exactly like the original with no corrections.

Heh! That's scary -- of course you want to Soft Proof if you are sending to a lab and you have their profils -- that is what you want from a lab, or you can Soft Proof for paper you have and with the profile matching the paper with your printer, but to softproof for paper you don't have for doing your own printing is, well, only something you might do if the paper suppliers are very specific in an exact paper profile for your specific printer, otherwise it's a toss of the dice!

tonylong wrote in post #11503376
Heh! That's scary -- of course you want to Soft Proof if you are sending to a lab and you have their profils -- that is what you want from a lab, or you can Soft Proof for paper you have and with the profile matching the paper with your printer, but to softproof for paper you don't have for doing your own printing is, well, only something you might do if the paper suppliers are very specific in an exact paper profile for your specific printer, otherwise it's a toss of the dice!

No, what happened is that I was very disappointed to see just how bad a softproofed image looked. And I noticed at some point that a softproofed image on Platinum paper looked almost the same as before softproofing. So I started checking papers to see how they compared in that department. After I finished all the Canon papers I began downloading profiles for my printer (Seems like everybody makes profiles for the Pro9000mkII.) from other paper makers. Now it makes sense, right?

Hey, well the proof of the pudding and all -- it will all click when you get a profile and a paper that will give a Soft Proof that matches a print!

tonylong wrote in post #11504276
Hey, well the proof of the pudding and all -- it will all click when you get a profile and a paper that will give a Soft Proof that matches a print!

Oh, well, it's clicking okay. As long as I'm using either Platinum or Plus Glossy II, the prints match the screen pretty well. So now it's time to venture into a different type of paper.

maybe give the hahnemuhle baryta papers a go...slightly gloss and stippled texture...kind of like the best mix of matte and gloss...

Well, I said that Inkpress makes their own profiles, but I got another email from them today in response to another email I sent them and it looks like maybe they don't. I don't really know.
I posted about it in another thread "Printing too bright and light."

I have printed inkpress luster paper on a cheaper Canon printer (MP970), using Inkpress's own profiles (their web page clearly points to the right one and gives printer-specific advice on paper selection from the printer's menus). The results have been consistently excellent, better than I get with Canon's own profiles and paper plus glossy II. It's now my standard paper with that printer.

Go here -- http://www.redrivercat​alog.com/browse/index.​htm -- for more info on paper...quite a lot of data.

I'm glad it's working for you; the reason I said I don't know whether they make their own profiles is that first they told me they do make their own. But then when I asked whether the profile on their page is actually Canon's profile, they said yes! And then they told me which Canon profiles to use for the Inkpress papers. If they have their own profiles, why would I want to use Canon profiles?
Anyway, maybe I'll do like you and try their luster paper and the profile they supply (regardless of whose it is).