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As Autumn progresses
the overall leaf masses are still on a dominating green side. Yet you can indeed spot plenty of red and yellow. We have not yet come to the point where leafs are falling en masse to the ground. I assume this will happen in 2-3 weeks or so. When storms take them down and you get that very classic sense of autumn; with bright yellow, reddish and brownish colors dominating.
It has been far more sunny than you normally would expect for this time of the yer (in Stockholm). I think the past 30 daily average is still at 6 hours per day. So, it is on a very high side. The sun has almost every morning greeted us when Sal and I were up during mornings - giving this bright, wonderful sense spread in our apartment. The kind of sense that gives you a happy feel !
Printing is FUN !
In the mean time, during the past 5-6 weeks, I have of course bought a lot of printing papers. Not the most advanced, expensive ones - but more general and hopefully good ones. Like from ILFORD mainly, with various surfaces. And made plenty of large images.
To my delight, the Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is truly a stunner. Things just work - and they work exceptionally well. I never thought I would become fond of printing. Never did i think it would be this easy, either. (After a hiatus of 23 years, abandoning all kind of photo printing).
And while the Epson ET-8550 isn't made with pigmented ink - the lifespan of the inks printed on paper, is pretty long lasting in relative terms, that I really don't mind, that it is a dye based printer.
Did I mention the MUCH more affordable inks ? Oh boy, what a JOY ! I have printed, and printed - and still, most of the 6 inks are still 92%, while the gray ink - which plays a major roll for the high quality of the prints, is used much more heavily; stands at around 73%
Lovely Black & White
Black & White prints made on matte photo paper and with the Epson Advanced B&W Photo setting (though their Epson Print Layout) software, look really stunning ! Or from my primitive, more amateur oriented perspective; they look far better than i had expected. Printing color photos on matte, pearl or glossy - give gorgeous results. Really and truly. Just make sure to enable the right settings, for the paper you use.
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Ilford STUDIO, Satin (250 gram)
Ilford GALERY, Satin Photo (260 gram)
I must say, that the PEARL/SATIN surface is perhaps my favorite of all surfaces, because it marks a good compromise between the "mute" surface of matte papers, and high reflective glossy surfaces.
Glossy is a bit sensitive - albeit really lovely to look at, with a noble sense. Like something you have to treat really careful and with respect.
But glossy surfaces give a lot of reflections, and the risk of leaving fingerprints which become visible. You don't get that problem with Pearl/Satin surfaces, yet the latter still gives you a sense of photo quality paper (compare to matte papers, which do not have any reflections on going on the surface).
Frankly I don't see much difference or any at all, between Ilford Studio Satin, and Ilford Galeri Satin. The weight of 250 vs 260 gram, and the surface character are pretty much the same. Also price wise they play in the same ball park. Which is pretty affordable, too.
I bought 100 sheets of A4 paper for 561 krona, or around 50 € (Amazon.se)
Albeit in the A3+ size, the Ilford Studio Satin is more affordable; 50 sheet A3+ for 685 SEK, or 61 €, where the Ilford Galeri Satin Photo, is more expensive at around 80 €, also at Amazon.se.
Ilford STUDIO, Glossy (200 gram)
- simply too thin and "shines though"
One paper i found surprising, (and highly annoying) was that the ILFORD STUDIO, GLOSSY - was ridiculous thin. While the printing quality on it was excellent, but what's up with that thin, semi shining through thickness ? Why is it that thin - despite being 200 gsm ?!
With "shining though" i mean, that when you have a dark photo under it, you would see that shining though the print above you are looking at.
I mean, what the heck !?
The Epson super glossy paper i had bought 25 years ago, doesn't do that. It was and still is excellent in quality (I also think they still sell it). The Ilford Studio Matte and Pearl versions were felt perfect, being completely opaque. As it should be.
When you mount a photo made with Ilford Studio, Glossy - you would have to take another white sheet so that nothing "shines though" from beneath (in case it is a dark back or has patterns).
Wait... i should make a photo of that effect.
(I'll it later)
KOALA PHOTO PAPER, High Glossy (240 gram)
Too soft - and not up to the task of really high quality
Then, there is a cheap version, called KOALA HIGH GLOSSY
Physically too soft paper ?
It is a relatively thick-ish paper - but is too soft ! The Epson ET-8550 printer will leave physical thin marks along the longer side of the prints. This also happens when it is transported straight through the printer, from the backside where you have to re-configure the printer, in order to get a straight walk-though path. Even there, i had physical thin lines pressed against the surface.
The Koala paper is as i said, ridiculously affordable - and that might be fine for any kind of posters you just want to slap onto the wall - "Just like that". For anything that doesn't need super quality, and where little quirks and flaws really don't matter. Then by God, go for it. (Remember i am talking about DYE based ink printers, not printers based on pigmented ink)
100 sheets A3 for 289 SEK / 24 € (Amazon.se)
Notice
the packaging of this photo paper is HIGHLY inferior. That combined with delivery though Amazon... well you can imagine; Many users have reported that their papers where delivered with damages; with bent or damaged corners etc. I tried to circumvent this by ordering two packs instead - and that worked out well, without any damage.
IMPORTANT:
This paper is NOT TO BE USED with pigment ink printers !!! It will smear off at the slightest touch. As if the pigments stay loosely on the surface, without any penetration into the paper. So; only for dye based inks.
Unevenly printed in smooth medium-darker areas
I noticed with the Koala Glossy paper slightly uneven printed areas (in very even lit surfaces, backgrounds etc, that are medium light/dark etc). This becomes visible at closer inspection, and looks like if a ultra cheap printer has been used - think 25 years ago type of office printers.
This wasn't visible all across the image, only in very specific type of even areas, looking like cross streaks (in two directions), like printers often did 20+ years ago. In all other areas the image looked uniform.
Since i printed a motive on other papers - i did not get that. Therefore, it wasn't a printer error or misalignment, but the paper itself.
Transport marks
Also; you could see faint roller transport marks from the printer - like very thin lines being pressed against the paper. it means a physical effect, where something sharp has pressed against the paper - which i think is too soft, and therefore gets these marks.
So, for high quality printing, i don't use this paper. But can use it for just anything else, that needs to be printed big and doesn't need to last a long time.
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