a quick question on Ilford MGIV RC paper texture

[biakalt]

hello,

I'm considering buying myself a pack of Ilford MGIV RC paper for the first time from ebay (pack of 100). I'm wondering what the differences between the texture grades?

glossy - I'm not too fond of
satin - is it a matt texture?
pearl - is it the in between glossy and satin?

looking forward to your responses.

thank you.

 

[sevo]

IMHO there is only glossy, ugly and very ugly - plus matt, but you cannot get that in RC, it is fibre based only.

Satin is almost semi-matt, pearl is coarser and looks more as if droplets of dew had settled on its surface. Both are embossed on the surface and no real matt.

In my opinion it is devoid of aesthetics. The only use I had for it was to prevent scanning to professional quality as it suffers some glare on the structure regardless how it is lit. This came in useful to print promotional handouts - but today I use digital on high gloss paper, and reduce resolution to the bare minimum necessary for the format, for the same purpose.

 

[biakalt]

thank you

i've only been using Kentmere lustre paper that they sell in my university. it has a matte texture to it and i really don't like glossy cos it picks up fingerprints so easily. I'm just thining of printing some of my personal shot on 5x7 so it's not anything professional. i guess either satin or pearl is the one to go for as you mentioned. the processor in my university I doubt can process FB paper, and they don't let us to use trays :/

thanks again!

 

[MartinP]

I have found that Kentmere RC glossy is less distractingly shiny than the Ilford glossy version. See if you can have a look at that surface to compare them, it might be what you need.