Beacon Hill at night: paper choice

[DanK]

This is a B&W conversion and substantial re-edit of an image from a few years ago:



It's the first B&W I've printed on a baryta paper (Canson Baryta Photographique), which is now one of my default papers. It looks like a wet-darkroom print. I wish I had some of my Agfa Brovira prints from many decades ago to compare with it, but they all vanished years ago.

On a whim, I also printed it on Canson Rag Photographique, a very white (but OBA-free), quite smooth matte paper. To my surprise, it looks very nice on the rag paper. On balance, I think I prefer the baryta, but it's not a clear winner.

Anyway, C&C welcome as always, and if you have thoughts about papers for this sort of image, I'd be interested.

[Shadowman]

Nice capture and processing, for paper choices Canson Platine is another option as you can print with Matte black even though the paper has a glossy look.

[DanK]

Nice capture and processing, for paper choices Canson Platine is another option as you can print with Matte black even though the paper has a glossy look.

I put test prints (color) with Platine and Baryta photgraphique next to each other, and they are very similar. I no longer recall why I chose the latter, but I do remember that it was a hard choice because they were very similar and very appealing.

I print with a Canon Prograf, so I don't switch black inks. The printer has both installed at all times and uses whatever mix its firmware determines, based on the medium I specify. I haven't read anything to confirm this, but watching the ink-supply monitor, it seems to me that the printer mixes them in some cases--the matte black ink is being consumed, albeit more slowly, even when I print almost entirely on non-matte papers. However, that may be wrong. Whatever it's doing, it works.

[Shadowman]

I put test prints (color) with Platine and Baryta photgraphique next to each other, and they are very similar. I no longer recall why I chose the latter, but I do remember that it was a hard choice because they were very similar and very appealing.

I print with a Canon Prograf, so I don't switch black inks. The printer has both installed at all times and uses whatever mix its firmware determines, based on the medium I specify. I haven't read anything to confirm this, but watching the ink-supply monitor, it seems to me that the printer mixes them in some cases--the matte black ink is being consumed, albeit more slowly, even when I print almost entirely on non-matte papers. However, that may be wrong. Whatever it's doing, it works.

I noticed with my printer LLK, followed by LK; gets used more often regardless of whichever black (photo/matte) is used.

[Geoff F]

That scene looks good to me.

We don't seem to get much choice over papers in the UK.

[DanK]

That scene looks good to me.

We don't seem to get much choice over papers in the UK.

Thanks.

I looked, and you can get Canson papers on amazon.uk


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[Manfred M]

Dan - my first choice would have been a baryta paper too. It has about 1/2 ev more dynamic range than a matte paper. With the bright highlights and deep shadows in this shot, that will probably make a bit of difference in the final print.

[DanK]

Dan - my first choice would have been a baryta paper too. It has about 1/2 ev more dynamic range than a matte paper. With the bright highlights and deep shadows in this shot, that will probably make a bit of difference in the final print.

Manfred,

That difference is noticeable. In other respects, there is something appealing about the matte print. However, I have to show this tonight, and I'm going to use baryta for the 13 x 19 that I'll show.

FYI, I'll paste below the partially edited version before I converted to B&W. You can see one of the reasons I converted: different light sources with substantially different color casts. I think I am going to do an increasing share of my urban night photography in B&W, partly for that reason.

Dan

[Geoff F]

I've found that paper now, mixed in among all their drawing/painting paper. Thanks.

Certainly not cheap when you get to A3 size but I will give it a go next time I am printing something special.

[Clactonian]

Platine fibre rag is my go to paper for black and white. With deep blacks and a slight texture to the silk finish it gives the prints some real pop. I'm using a Canon Pro 1 printer.

[DanK]

Platine fibre rag is my go to paper for black and white. With deep blacks and a slight texture to the silk finish it gives the prints some real pop. I'm using a Canon Pro 1 printer.

Unfortunately, I had only one sheet of Platine from a sampler, so I can’t reprint this to compare. However, when I printed a test image, which included true blacks but was a color image, Platine and Baryta Photographique produced very similar prints. I don’t recall why I chose one over the other. I just remember that they were so similar that I had a hard time choosing.

At some point I should redo this exercise with B&W


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