 CONTENTS
.....................
Magnet
Paper
New
Kodak Paper
Volker's
Konica QP Review
Fade
Test
Jack
Fouquette's Paper Review
Paper
Reviews
Sal
Danna of Konica with an article on Konica QP Glossy paper!
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s |
Viewpoints on Longevity.24
March 1999
| Here are some of Royce
Bair's views and comments on longevity reproduced here with his kind permission.
He comments specifically on 770 HGC Weber Valentine
paper as well as Liege paper and Equipoise inks.
A
short article but insightful nonetheless.
Viewpoints on Longevity
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Fade testing of the New Epson Photo Paper.20
January 1999
  Here's
great news for those looking for longer lasting prints (who isn't)! The
New Photo Paper (reviewed here
by Volker) with improved light fastness has been tested
by Royce Bair of Stock Solution.Here's a snippet
from Royce's test results:-
"Our
Conclusions: The new "Improved" and "longer Lasting" Epson Photo Paper
appeared to significantly reduce the magenta dye fading. Magenta dye fading
for the 6-color inks was reduced to almost 1/3 the fade level of its predecessor,
and overall (for all three color inks) fading was reduce to almost 1/2.
When using the 4-color inks, the improvement was less dramatic (probably
because of a lack of the less stable light magenta dye). But even here
the magenta fading was reduced by more than 1/2; and overall, fading was
reduced by about 1/3. We did not conclude in this accelerated experiment
whether there remained a "yellowing" problem (the coated white base turning
yellow after prolong exposure to the air) in the "improved" version."
 Proceed
to the Longevity Test!
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The New Epson Photo Paper.7
January 1999
Check
out Volker Jaeger's first impression of the New Epson Photo Paper
which
has been improved in terms of light fastness. Volker takes a look at the
print quality produced by his Photo EX when the New Epson Photo Paper is
used, including finding out whether the dreaded pizza wheel tracks are
still present. READ
IT HERE!
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Mitsubishi Magnet Paper.A
Quick Look
..........................................................
Konica QP vs Epson Photo Paper.
Compare
21 September
1998.Have a look at Volker's review
of the Konica QP
which he pitted against the Epson Photo Paper.
|
Konica
QP
vs
Epson
Photo Paper
|
..........................................................
Jack Fouquette's Paper Report.The
Review
6
September 1998.Read Jack's excellent review of the various types
of glossy paper available in the market for photo-realistic printing. Jack
has no affiliation with any of the commercial paper manufacturers, and
has carried out his tests more as a hobby project, and posted the results
as a service to the community of Epson printer users. Great work Jack!
Please keep us posted on any updates and new paper types.
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Jack's
Paper Report
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Kodak Papers.New
paper types
13 September
1998.I have only had limited success with Kodak paper, as the
Epson ink does not dry well when used with the Kodak paper and gives
the dreaded "crocodile-skin" effect. For what it's worth to Epsonites,
found out recently that Kodak has released (don't know when) several new
paper types (amongst others) which you may be interested in knowing in
addition to their photo paper:-
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..........................................................
Paper Reviews.Paper
available in S'pore
Here are some preliminary
reviews of mine on the various types of paper available on the market today
as tested in relation to the Epson PhotoEX/700:-
1Mitsubishi
Glossy Paper
Priced at S$11.90
per pack of 10, this paper is a viable alternative to the Epson Photo Paper.
Available at Funan Centre (South Asia). The best thing about it is it's
glossiness.
|
| Mitsubishi
Glossy Paper |
| Model
Number MP5GA4010 |
| Web-contactn/a |
| PriceS$11.90
(20pc) |
| WhereSouth
Asia |
|
|
|
-
Extremely glossy, even more so than
the Epson Photo Paper
|
|
-
it is water resistant!! No smudging
at all, even when I put several 6-8) LARGE drops of water onto the print.
|
|
|
-
Pictures may 'bleed'. I have experienced
severe bleeding on SOME printouts, (around 5%) done with Mitsubishi paper.
Don't know what is the cause
|
|
-
Colour reproduction seems a tad-bit
off as compared to the Epson Photo Paper
|
|
|
-
I have found that the Mitsubishi photo
paper works best at Glossy Film setting with supermicroweave on
and colour adjustment set to automatic. Colours are very realistic
when Glossy Film is choosen with the mitsubishi paper.
-
I used the following paper type settings
with the Mitsubishi paper and found the following results:-
1. photo paper - yellow/green
cast;
2. photo quality inkjet paper
- too much ink, the printout looked wetfor a few minutes, colour appeared
too dark and colours were off (yellow cast).
-
So far, colour adjustment set to "automatic
" gives best results. Using the no-colour adjustment setting tended to
give darker printouts.
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|
|
2Canon
HG 201 Glossy Film
Intro
This is trully the "rolls-royce" of glossy film...priced at S$29 per pack
of 10, this paper is (in my opinion) a better option to the Epson Glossy
Film. Available at Funan Centre (South Asia).
|
|
-
extremely-extremely glossy,
even more so than the Mitsubishi. You can say it is the glossiest
of them all.
-
it is water resistant
|
|
|
-
Price perhaps?
-
Also, it does not come in any size
other than A4
|
|
|
-
Best results with Glossy Film setting
and "Automatic colour.adjustment".
|
[ email
me if you have reviews you want to contribute] |
|
3Konica
QP Glossy Paper
I have heard so much about the
Konica QP glossy paper but it's not available in Singapore. It would be
great to hear from anybody with first-hand experience of this paper.
 Shortly
after posting the above comment, I received an email from Konica's Sal
Danna in response to an earlier request of mine on Konica Paper:-
I took
a look at your site and think it is a wonderful idea. I am enclosing
a technical write up but easy to understand on "Konica QP" Ink Jet Paper.
It explains the difference in swelling type of coating vs. micro pores.
Konica QP uses micro pres as you will read in the attachment. As
the National Sales Manager for Konica my endorsement of the product would
be biased. Your best responses would come from the Epson news users
group. For instance, I know Jack Foquette did a review on all papers.
Many more have written positive coments describing their love for the product.
Just put out a message asking for comments on the Konica QP. I know
that at most of the shows I attend with Photoshop trainers they rave about
the combination of Konica & Epson. Photographers and artists
that use our paper are hooked because of the quality, instant drying, weight,
water resistence, and feel of the paper.
.....................................Here's
Sal's Article......
"QP”
Ink Jet Paper vs. The World
By Sal
Danna
Most glossy photo grade ink jet
papers use a swelling type of coating. A swelling type of ink jet
coating uses a gelatin layer, which swells and stops ink from bleeding.
This paper is popular with manufacturers because it is easier to produce.
Color unevenness may occur, however, depending on the gelatin swelling
speed, ink may be sticky due to organic substances like glycerin, contained
in the water content of the ink. This problem causes a user to lay
printed output on cabinet, table and desk tops allowing them to dry.
It also eliminates the possibility of printing multiples for fear of successive
prints sticking together in the printer exit tray. To solve this
problem Konica added an adequate paper structure and binder to absorb ink
instantly and fix it.
Konica solved this problem by introducing
a new coating technology to form micro-pore coating. In our new “QP”
coating, a small amount of binder, not gelatin, is used to achieve a higher
porosity formation rate. A single pore measures only .06 micron,
or 1/10th of a silver-halide grain. We have succeeded in providing
ink jet paper with a higher absorption rate without sacrificing the glossiness.
This porosity structure improves
the speed of ink absorption and granulation without causing dot blurring
or unevenness. For the swelling type paper, a slower ink absorption
speed can cause the subsequent ink to stick to the previous ink before
it is absorbed, resulting in unevenness or blurring.
Another new Konica technology ensures
improved dyeing performance by using water and light resistant dye mordant.
Actually, the cationic polymer mordant used in this technology features
higher water resistance and instant drying time. The conventional
dye mordant is less resistant to light, but the new dye mordant has overcome
that problem.
Furthermore, highly water-resistant
coating technology is adopted. This technology forms a highly resistant
coating against water and combines a non-swelling binder and most effective
coat-hardening agent for ink. Therefore, ink does not bleed when
paper is moistened. Most of the conventional methods inevitably allow
inks to bleed due to the gelatin coating combined with the hardening agent.
The technology obtained in developing
photographic sensitive materials is also applied. First, a water-resistant
resin coated (RC) base material which features extreme smoothness and does
not crumple when moistened is used. Therefore, the paper is durable
against discoloration. Next, a fluorescent-brightening agent which
creates favorable whiteness in addition to base whiteness, is used to adjust
paper color. This fluorescent brightening agent is also resistant
to light and features a special improved property against discoloration.
Simultaneous multi-coating technology used for producing photographic paper
improves productivity and reduces production cost for “QP”
Supported by these new technologies
Konica succeeded in producing ink jet paper which dries instantly less
ink blurring when moistened less image deterioration and less invisibility
due to ink blurring.
|
Main
Features Of Konica “QP”
|
1.
8.5” x 11” and 11” x 17”
2.
Dries Instantly
3.
Highly Water Resistant
4.
Smooth and Uniform Color Gradation
5.
Smooth and Accurate Color Reproduction
6.
Superior Glossiness
7.
Superior Whiteness
8.
Superior Feel Compares To Photographic Paper
9.
Heavy Weight Thickness Eliminates Curl and Waves When Mounting
10.
Economical Cost |
................................................................
Thanks Sal
for your article! I have just received the Konica QP paper courtesy of
Sal and will be testing it soon. Anyone with personal experience in using
Konica QP Paper or views to contribute, please email
me.
|
Visit
Konica.com
Konica's
InkjetPaper page
Where
to get Konica QP
Try this link to IslandArtCards
for a list of on-line dealers of
consumables. One of them should have this paper.
|
................................................................
4Fullmark
Inkjet Glossy Paper
Summary
This is affordable photo paper from Fullmark. Available at South Asia.
Whilst its surface is not as glossy as other third-party brands out there,
it is cheaper than most and is of decent quality. I did not find it particularly
inspiring in terms of colour reproduction and vibrancy. Given a choice,
I would go with Epson's Photo Paper or the Mitsubishi.
|
| Fullmark
Inkjet Glossy Paper |
| Model
Number PPIJGLO |
| Web-contactFullmark |
| Price
S$32.00 (50pc) |
| Driver
Settings Glossy Film |
|
................................................................
5Fullmark
Inkjet Photo Paper
Summary
This paper is more expensive than its other counterpart paper produced
by Fullmark (see above) but it cannot be used with the EX.
Ink does not dry until very long after the printout and even then, you
can easily leave finger-print marks on the printouts.The printout also
has a 'tacky' feel right after printing which persists for quite a long
while. Heck, the paper feels tacky even before you print. Take care that
you do not confuse this paper with the one mentioned above.
|
| Fullmark
Inkjet Photo Paper |
| Model
Number PPIJPHO |
| Web-contactFullmark |
| Price
S$16.50 (20pc) |
| Driver
Settings Glossy Film |
|
Henry Wilhelm's light stability test.Archival
Testing
My thanks to Gary Molitor with
a tip on the Henry Wilhelm report on inkjet light stability test.Those
of you interested in information on inkjet light
stability test done by Henry Wilhelm (circa
May 1995), considered by some in the industry
to be an expert on this subject, visit:
The Wilhelm report is a 1995
report which is very extensive and covers a very wide range of digital
output including the Epson Stylus Color Ink Jet Printer (with 1995 ink
set). Here's an extract of the Wilhelm report:-
"Included
in this light-fading stability study are digital output from thermal dye
transfer printers (often referred to as "dye sublimation" printers); medium-
and high-resolution ink jet printers; silver halide-based
dye-release-transfer; thermal wax transfer; prints made with dry-toner
electrophotographic copier/printers; prints made with liquid-toner electrostatic
printers; high-stability pigment-gelatin processes; and other types of
digital output, including prints made with traditional chromogenic photographic
papers. These processes form color images with either CMY (cyan, magenta,
and yellow), or with CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) dyes or pigments."
Of interest, the Epson Stylus ink
set (1995 ink set) tested in the Wilhelm report rated a "predicted display
life" of 6 months. Anyone with a silver bullet solution to the
ink-fade problem please share it with the rest of us. |
|
................................................................
Fade Testing.A
short test
7
September 1998: I conducted a simple test to determine how badly
my printouts were fading when exposed to the sun. I began by printing some
standard fill patterns with bright and vivid colours. Then I laminated
one of the prints with Tenza book laminate (cold laminate) which works
like a sticker for book covers (ie you just stick them on). I exposed both
the laminated prinout and one other un-laminated printout to direct sunlight
by affixing both printouts to one of the windows at my office facing outwards.
This meant that both printouts were exposed to direct sunlight for long
periods of time since this is Singapore after all! Temperatures outside
get as high as 33 Celsius.
Here
are the results:-
Commencement
date: 15
June 1998 Paper
TypePhoto Quality Inkjet Paper
Date
of Scanning: 6 September 1998
 
The unprotected printout has faded
quite badly. I would estimate that the colours are about 25-35% less vibrant
than the printout kept in the dark although you probably would not be able
to see it very clearly given the differences in displays and display settings.
The laminated printout is holding up quite well for a low-cost solution.
I noticed fading from 3 weeks onwards but did not scan the printouts to
document the results. I will be conducting some other test but this time,
I will include a printout which is hung on the wall in a frame not too
far away from the window (ie representing normal use of printouts) and
will be scanning the images on a weekly basis to see the results.
One thing's certain, the lamination
appears to be working to some extent. The printouts which were laminated
had a 5-15% fade. More results in the weeks to come.
|
.................
Here
are my findings:-
Fading
appears to be a serious problem with this media...barely 3 months after
displaying it on my fridge, fading is evident.
