Printing, Part Two

Or everything I've learned about getting consistent color with Photoshop, a PowerBook G4, and an Epson R1800.

(See also: part one.)

The Paper

One of the wonderful things about ink jet printing, as compared to wet-darkroom printing, is the variety of paper available. Cool tone, natural white, glossy, pearl, satin, matte, all in a variety of textures and weights. And lots more about to be released. Great stuff.

But when you are starting out, pick one paper and learn to print well on it. Different papers respond to ink very differently, sometimes surprisingly so. As a starter paper, pick one from the company that made your printer. They will have carefully profiled the paper, ink, and printer, making good results easier. For me, this meant getting some Epson paper. I don't like glossy paper; I think it looks like ass. So I picked up a pack of the Premium Semi-Gloss and a pack of Enhanced Matte. The semi-gloss paper still feels too much like a junky RC paper, so I used very little of it. The enhanced matte is a nice paper, relatively good Dmax and good color reproduction. It isn't the cheapest possible paper (about 28 cents per 8 1/2 x 11 sheet), but it takes color well and can produce a reasonably good black. Ilford's Heavyweight Matte is a slightly less-expensive alternative that prints similarly.

As expected, Epson had a good set of color profiles for the paper. Whatever paper you choose, make sure the manufacturer supplies ICC profiles specific to the printer / ink / paper combination; you'll have a much more difficult time getting accurate color without profiles.

If you are feeling adventurous, think about getting some paper for final prints. Once you have a good print on something like Enhanced Matte, a paper like Velvet Fine Art makes a fantastic final print. Velvet Fine Art is heavier and thicker than Enhanced Matte and can reproduce more vibrant color and deeper blacks. Given the quality of Epson's profiles, it is hard to beat Velvet Fine Art. Velvet Fine Art has a rather pronounced texture. If the texture is too much for you, take a look at Moab Entrada 300. Slightly heavier than Velvet Fine Art, Entrada has a smooth texture and prints beautifully. These papers are more expensive (around $1.20 per 8 1/2 x 11 sheet) so are really only appropriate for final prints.

When you pick a paper, be sure to figure out which side is the printable side. Unless your paper is double-sided, most ink jet papers are coated on one side. This coating helps the paper accept the ink uniformly without too much dot gain.