Best Matte Paper for Epson 3880

[PaulR]

I have become an increasingly serious and demanding printer using my Epson 3880. I am currently printing primarily on Epson Exhibition Fiber, Canson Baryta Photographique and Canson Platine Fiber Rag. So far my favorites are the Canson papers and I am not sure yet which I prefer. I've also tried the Harman Gloss Baryta and I love the surface but the quality control simply isn't there, far too many sheets have defects in the coating. All of those papers are more expensive than I would really like but they do make lovely prints.

And I have also printed a fair amount on Epson Hot Press Bright and I really like the matte surface but the lack of saturation and contrast compared to the other papers really makes the sort of color printing I do seem relatively lifeless.

So my question is whether anybody has tried a matte paper that achieves the color saturation and dMax that is possible with the Baryta papers but without the surface sheen. I know it is probably like searching for the Holy Grail but I thought I would ask.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[Howard Moftich]

take a look at Epson VFA

 

[PaulR]

take a look at Epson VFA

Thanks for the recommendation. Have you ever compared it to the Hot Press Bright paper? I've always assumed that was Epson's "best" matte paper but since it is also the only one I've printed on I don't actually know that to be true.

 

[Howard Moftich]

you are not going to find the 'grail'. matte's simply do not have the saturation or Dmax you're looking for. it's a different look.

 

[Hugowolf]

In my opinion, Canson Rag Photographique 310 is the best smooth surface paper on the market. But paper choice is a very subjective thing.

I also use Hahnemühle German Etching a lot.

I have heard good things about Epson’s hot and cold pressed papers, but for me, the bright is too bright, and the natural is not white enough.

If you can afford it, BFK Rives, distributed by Canson, is an exceptionally good paper. Designed from the start as a printing paper, however many centuries ago.

Brian A

 

[Lynn David Cole]

I have become an increasingly serious and demanding printer using my Epson 3880. I am currently printing primarily on Epson Exhibition Fiber, Canson Baryta Photographique and Canson Platine Fiber Rag. So far my favorites are the Canson papers and I am not sure yet which I prefer. I've also tried the Harman Gloss Baryta and I love the surface but the quality control simply isn't there, far too many sheets have defects in the coating. All of those papers are more expensive than I would really like but they do make lovely prints.

And I have also printed a fair amount on Epson Hot Press Bright and I really like the matte surface but the lack of saturation and contrast compared to the other papers really makes the sort of color printing I do seem relatively lifeless.

So my question is whether anybody has tried a matte paper that achieves the color saturation and dMax that is possible with the Baryta papers but without the surface sheen. I know it is probably like searching for the Holy Grail but I thought I would ask.

Thanks for the comments.

After trying a number of matte papers I settled on Epson Hot Press Natural. It has very good dMax and to me it's slightly better than Canson Photographique Rag. I also liked the Canson Photograpique Baryta, but in general I prefer a matte surface.

Slightly Different Subject:

If you are interested in canvas, I suggest that you try Breathing Color Lyve Matte Canvas in conjunction with the Glamour II veneer. With that combination the dMax is very good and the resulting surface is very durable.

At some point I would like to try the Epson Exhibition Canvas Matte to see how it compares. Any matte canvas will need to be coated to protect the surface from scuffing.

 

[PaulR]

I have become an increasingly serious and demanding printer using my Epson 3880. I am currently printing primarily on Epson Exhibition Fiber, Canson Baryta Photographique and Canson Platine Fiber Rag. So far my favorites are the Canson papers and I am not sure yet which I prefer. I've also tried the Harman Gloss Baryta and I love the surface but the quality control simply isn't there, far too many sheets have defects in the coating. All of those papers are more expensive than I would really like but they do make lovely prints.

And I have also printed a fair amount on Epson Hot Press Bright and I really like the matte surface but the lack of saturation and contrast compared to the other papers really makes the sort of color printing I do seem relatively lifeless.

So my question is whether anybody has tried a matte paper that achieves the color saturation and dMax that is possible with the Baryta papers but without the surface sheen. I know it is probably like searching for the Holy Grail but I thought I would ask.

Thanks for the comments.

After trying a number of matte papers I settled on Epson Hot Press Natural. It has very good dMax and to me it's slightly better than Canson Photographique Rag. I also liked the Canson Photograpique Baryta, but in general I prefer a matte surface.

Slightly Different Subject:

If you are interested in canvas, I suggest that you try Breathing Color Lyve Matte Canvas in conjunction with the Glamour II veneer. With that combination the dMax is very good and the resulting surface is very durable.

At some point I would like to try the Epson Exhibition Canvas Matte to see how it compares. Any matte canvas will need to be coated to protect the surface from scuffing.

 

[PaulR]

In my opinion, Canson Rag Photographique 310 is the best smooth surface paper on the market. But paper choice is a very subjective thing.

I also use Hahnemühle German Etching a lot.

I have heard good things about Epson’s hot and cold pressed papers, but for me, the bright is too bright, and the natural is not white enough.

If you can afford it, BFK Rives, distributed by Canson, is an exceptionally good paper. Designed from the start as a printing paper, however many centuries ago.

Brian A

I'll have to see if one of the larger camera stores has any samples of the BFK Rives. That paper is more expensive than I would generally choose to afford. It would have to be very special for me to standardize on it.

 

[Lynn David Cole]

I have become an increasingly serious and demanding printer using my Epson 3880. I am currently printing primarily on Epson Exhibition Fiber, Canson Baryta Photographique and Canson Platine Fiber Rag. So far my favorites are the Canson papers and I am not sure yet which I prefer. I've also tried the Harman Gloss Baryta and I love the surface but the quality control simply isn't there, far too many sheets have defects in the coating. All of those papers are more expensive than I would really like but they do make lovely prints.

And I have also printed a fair amount on Epson Hot Press Bright and I really like the matte surface but the lack of saturation and contrast compared to the other papers really makes the sort of color printing I do seem relatively lifeless.

So my question is whether anybody has tried a matte paper that achieves the color saturation and dMax that is possible with the Baryta papers but without the surface sheen. I know it is probably like searching for the Holy Grail but I thought I would ask.

Thanks for the comments.

After trying a number of matte papers I settled on Epson Hot Press Natural. It has very good dMax and to me it's slightly better than Canson Photographique Rag. I also liked the Canson Photograpique Baryta, but in general I prefer a matte surface.

Slightly Different Subject:

If you are interested in canvas, I suggest that you try Breathing Color Lyve Matte Canvas in conjunction with the Glamour II veneer. With that combination the dMax is very good and the resulting surface is very durable.

At some point I would like to try the Epson Exhibition Canvas Matte to see how it compares. Any matte canvas will need to be coated to protect the surface from scuffing.

 

[ADMint]

Papers are really a personal preference and in some instances depends on what you want to print on them. Personally I prefer matte papers over any gloss paper but that's me.

When I was using an Epson 2200, my go to paper was Ultra premium matte paper, followed by their water color paper, and then luster.

Since moving to a 3880 I've been searching around and may have settled on Epson's Hot/Cold press bright papers for my matte finish, and for my "gloss" paper, I've been blown away by the Exhibition Fiber. This is "soft gloss" paper but I'd call a cross between a luster and matte paper with a very wide gamut and high Dmax rating, and low gloss. I posted about them here with an image sample.

Anyway there are many fine papers out there, including some exceptional non Epson brands. You just need to try a couple of sample packs, whether ilford, hahnemuhle, or someone else.

For me, I really like the Epson Cold Press Bright (a textured matte paper), followed by the Exhibition Fiber which really is an exceptional paper, and works really well on the 3880. And I'm not even using a RIP. Anyway Check out Greg Gorman thoughts on it.

As I said, this is a personal taste and really comes down to what you like and what you want your prints on. My suggestion is to find and try some sample packs and decide from there. Here's Epson's sample pack .

My two cents.

 

[Charles2]

I recently put the matte black ink in an R2880 and tried Red River Polar Magna matte. It's 96 lb., but when I took a quick look at their website just now, I see only an 86 lb.

Matte's absence of gloss can be addictive. Looking at some of my prints on Canson Baryta and Canson Platine rag, even the mild sheens put me off.

The Magna paper disappointed me on color fidelity. My eye is not professional, but prints seems to lack sufficient red. Maybe the Red River profile for this paper and R2880 is off. Instead of having a custom profile made, I will probably try one of the mattes discussed here.

I do not understand what the difference between a watercolor paper and a matter paper is in terms of how they present the image.

 

[Mark McCormick]

For me, I really like the Epson Cold Press Bright (a textured matte paper), followed by the Exhibition Fiber which really is an exceptional paper, and works really well on the 3880. And I'm not even using a RIP. Anyway Check out Greg Gorman thoughts on it.

If Greg Gorman knew just how bad the white point stability of Exhibition fiber paper is over time, he might reconsider his effusive praise of this paper. It's worst in class. Almost any "traditional fiber" inkjet paper outperforms Epson Exhibition Fiber paper in terms of media white point stability over time. Media whitepoint stability is essential to preserving the artist's original vision of the artwork's aesthetic, especially when printing monochromatic B&W prints that readily reveal any changes in highlight color hue and chroma if altered in any way from what the artist saw when the print was fresh and in pristine condition.

 

[Hugowolf]

... followed by the Exhibition Fiber which really is an exceptional paper, and works really well on the 3880.

I have yet to find a paper that will yellow as quickly as Epson Exhibition Fibre, it is a truly remarkably paper.

It works exceptionally well, but for a brief period of time.

Brian A

 

[ADMint]

Oh please. As I said, paper is a personal thing. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean everyone has to follow suit. And yes, that sentiment goes equally well to Mr. Gorman on his side of the coin.

With that, though I don't know Mr. Gorman, I'm quite confident he wouldn't give that kind of statement by actually "putting his money where his mouth is" if he was that inept. You don't get to where someone like him got cutting corners.

As for me, having used the paper myself, I have no qualms with it. As I said, it's a personal thing.

Peace.

 

[pcm81]

I like Optica One from Breathing Color.

 

[ADMint]

I've not tried any of the other third party papers outside of Ilford, but that's some old Smooth Pearl paper I have from my 2200 days. I hear breathing color makes some nice papers so I'll have to give them a look. And one of my old co-workers uses Hahnemühle papers though he tends to favor the Epson matte papers for most of the work he sells.

At any rate I'll be checking out some other papers as I gain a better understanding of printing fine art photos. Still have a lot to learn.

As I said though, everyone has their own favorites that works for them, but not necessarily for everyone else. Thanks for the tip though, I'll give them a look.

Peace.

 

[Mark McCormick]

Oh please. As I said, paper is a personal thing. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean everyone has to follow suit.

At approximately $1.75 per square foot here in the U.S. Exhibition Fiber paper is not a paper for budget conscious printmakers. So, the first test it should pass is initial image quality. Apparently it does for you, and to many other photographers like Greg Gorman. For my taste, EEF has way too many optical brighteners that make it too blue-white and susceptible to serious color constancy issues depending on illumination and framing/glazing choices. But assume for the moment that I love EEF's initial image "pop" as much as you do. Fine, now to gain my total respect, it also has to hold that pristine initial image quality well over time and not let down the expensive OEM pigmented inks that I use to print on top of it. If it can't maintain its initial whitepoint stability adequately over time, then I"m better off on a less expensive paper or another expensive high-end paper that has more long term durability.

Greg Gorman may be a consummate pro in the business, but unless he actually conducts some age testing on the paper he likes using criteria that he personally finds acceptable or looks at all the test data available on this product and not just the data provided by Epson, he would have no way of knowing just how bad Exhibition Fiber is in relation to other papers he could use in that price category. Epson relies on a consumer light fade testing and dark aging protocol that is far too liberal in how much yellowing it allows to be of much value to printmakers trying to produce the highest fine art quality product. If you don't care about these matters, that's your personal prerogative. But don't assume that other advanced amateurs and serious professional printmakers should dismiss the media yellowing issue as quickly as you did.

--
Mark McCormick

http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com

 

[PaulR]

Oh please. As I said, paper is a personal thing. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean everyone has to follow suit.

At approximately $1.75 per square foot here in the U.S. Exhibition Fiber paper is not a paper for budget conscious printmakers. So, the first test it should pass is initial image quality. Apparently it does for you, and to many other photographers like Greg Gorman. For my taste, EEF has way too many optical brighteners that make it too blue-white and susceptible to serious color constancy issues depending on illumination and framing/glazing choices. But assume for the moment that I love EEF's initial image "pop" as much as you do. Fine, now to gain my total respect, it also has to hold that pristine initial image quality well over time and not let down the expensive OEM pigmented inks that I use to print on top of it. If it can't maintain its initial whitepoint stability adequately over time, then I"m better off on a less expensive paper or another expensive high-end paper that has more long term durability.

Greg Gorman may be a consummate pro in the business, but unless he actually conducts some age testing on the paper he likes using criteria that he personally finds acceptable or looks at all the test data available on this product and not just the data provided by Epson, he would have no way of knowing just how bad Exhibition Fiber is in relation to other papers he could use in that price category. Epson relies on a consumer light fade testing and dark aging protocol that is far too liberal in how much yellowing it allows to be of much value to printmakers trying to produce the highest fine art quality product. If you don't care about these matters, that's your personal prerogative. But don't assume that other advanced amateurs and serious professional printmakers should dismiss the media yellowing issue as quickly as you did.

 

[Petruska]

My go to paper was Epson Exhibition Fiber, now it is San Gabriel.



Bob P.

 

[ADMint]

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