lynnb
Veteran
Has anyone yet tried Ilford's Gold Mono Silk, a recently announced 270gsm semi-gloss paper they claim is optimised for b&w printing? I'd be interested to hear any experiences with this paper. Currently I use Canson Baryta Photographique 310gsm for a traditional print look, and Hahnemuehle Photo Rag 308, using Epson's Ultrachrome inks. Any impressions, especially a comparison between this new paper and Canson Baryta would be appreciated.
There's some basic PR information about the new paper on Image Science's blog.
Also I found some Q&A discussion with Ilford over on LuLa (you will need to scroll down a little). One user in the LuLa thread has tried the paper and reports "...to my eye it looks like Harman Gloss Baryta without Baryta... It's not as pink as Hahnemuehle Baryta FB, but with a slight trace of pink." - the reference to pink surprised me, as I understand the new paper has a slight blue emphasis to give brighter, crisper whites. It also uses OBAs, which I have read change over time.
There's some basic PR information about the new paper on Image Science's blog.
Also I found some Q&A discussion with Ilford over on LuLa (you will need to scroll down a little). One user in the LuLa thread has tried the paper and reports "...to my eye it looks like Harman Gloss Baryta without Baryta... It's not as pink as Hahnemuehle Baryta FB, but with a slight trace of pink." - the reference to pink surprised me, as I understand the new paper has a slight blue emphasis to give brighter, crisper whites. It also uses OBAs, which I have read change over time.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
That sounds like interesting paper reading the blurb ... I currently use Gallery Smooth Pearl which was recommended to me by Les Porter.
paulfish4570
Veteran
the thread title had me thinking of 1001 arabian nights, sort of a harem decor feel to it ... 
MIkhail
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I tried and liked it.
So far it's the only paper I found (but I have not ried so many more) that comes close to my hand prints.
By the way, my prints (few that I made on this paper) actually tend to be more brownish than pink or blue. I dont mind that much, as I sometimes tone the handprints anyway, but still planning on adjusting this to get neutural prints. I do use drivers/prfiles and my monitor is calibrated.
Turtle
Veteran
I've tried it. More neutral on my Epson 3880 than the Harman and GF Silk when not using Advanced B&W mode, but the surface is not entirely to my liking. It has a RC silver paper look to it, but slightly lower gloss and unlike darkroom papers, the image is still on the surface so the gloss does not really give depth, instead just increases surface reflections and I find it a bit weird. I did for all the 'baryta' papers. None came anywhere near what a great wet print looks like, frankly. The depth just isn't there in any of them.
Its cheaper by far than the GFS, but if printing for behind glass, it looks every bit as good as the much more expensive Harman, which many rave about for B&W. It does not have the same genuine fibre feel to the base that the Harman or GFS have, but behind glass this just does not matter.
It prints fine for colour too... but GFS is IMO a better paper there. GFS is special with colour and IMO preferable to the Harman and the GF Mono. Just.
A glance at various websites a while ago showed it as quite a good price for A4 but v close to GFS for A3+
Its cheaper by far than the GFS, but if printing for behind glass, it looks every bit as good as the much more expensive Harman, which many rave about for B&W. It does not have the same genuine fibre feel to the base that the Harman or GFS have, but behind glass this just does not matter.
It prints fine for colour too... but GFS is IMO a better paper there. GFS is special with colour and IMO preferable to the Harman and the GF Mono. Just.
A glance at various websites a while ago showed it as quite a good price for A4 but v close to GFS for A3+