Moab Lasal Matte print settings, R3000

[SaveKodak]

I have a portfolio of images that I MUST print on Lasal Matte. I use Ice Nine portfolio books from Lost Luggage and those are the paper pages they provide if you want to print your own double sided book. Lasal Matte wouldn't be my first choice but it's fine for the intended purpose.

Any tips of print settings for the R3000? I have it set up with the provided ICC profile and I'm using Ultra Premium Presentation Matte, with perceptual rendering. For B&W images I'm using Epson ABW mode. My proofs so far look pretty good, but they don't always wow me. Particularly the color images which can go flat so often with matte papers. Any tips on getting that great black density when using this paper?

 

[PaulDalex]

Interesting
I don't know the paper. Sorry I can't help much.
The settings look correct to me
I am not a fan of Color Management. Rather I am obsessed by the fact that whereas the monitor emits light, paper reflects light, and so prints look more dull than on video.
To compensate I pump a little bit (but I am careful to avouid Photoshopped look) the image with stuff like vividness. Also I use semiglossy mostly: I dislike glossy papers.

 

[PaulDalex]

Addendum:
I also do use profiles whenever available
However, I noticed that when one prints on Roll letting the printer manage color is a must because otherwise the last part of the image is either not printed at all or is printed corrupted

 

[Dogman]

Like Pistach, I'm not familiar with Moab's Lasal paper but I do use an R3000. I've never been very fond of Moab's papers for various reasons. But I agree you might get better results letting the printer manage the color rather than using ICC profiles. It sounds simplistic but I've found the colors are more realistic and consistent than with profiles. However, I recall someone recently mentioning that letting the printer manage the color might only work well for those who use Macs. It's worth a try.

 

[SaveKodak]

So I did a test where I used the ICC profile, and then where I let the printer manage the color. The prints are a little different, but not in such a way where one is really better than the other. Slight difference in color tones here and there, my ICC profile is more accurate to my monitor.

I started using the built in soft proofing and it really gives me a better approximation of my print, especially because it lets me edit that soft proof in real time. I'll work with that to see if I can get the contrast range that I want and make sure my colors aren't out of gamma.

My preferred paper is Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta glossy, so moving to a bright smooth matte is a far cry from the contrast ratio you can get with a paper like that. Because the prints are in a book, I get that it makes sense to use a matte finish. But outside of that I have no idea why people do this to their photographs!

 

[Dogman]

According to Moab's site, Lasal is an RC matte finish paper. That's about the polar opposite from matte finish rag content art paper as one can get.

I know your project requires this paper but if you want to see what can be done with an R3000 and quality smooth finish matte art papers, try Canson Infinity Velin Museum Rag, BFK Rives (now called Printmaking Rag) or Rag Photographique. Also Epson Hot Press Natural (or Bright, if you must). For more texture, there's Epson Velvet Fine Art and Cold Press Natural (again, available in Bright) and Hahnemuhle Museum Etching. All are my favorites and see virtually 100% use in my printer. Agreed, the papers take some adjustment to the contrast and brightness but that's easily accomplished in Lightroom. I set the Brightness to +20 and the Contrast to +25 in the Print module, Print Sharpening to Standard, Media to Matte. Sometimes it takes a little more or less fiddling with those settings but usually the prints look great.

 

[SaveKodak]

According to Moab's site, Lasal is an RC matte finish paper. That's about the polar opposite from matte finish rag content art paper as one can get.

I know your project requires this paper but if you want to see what can be done with an R3000 and quality smooth finish matte art papers, try Canson Infinity Velin Museum Rag, BFK Rives (now called Printmaking Rag) or Rag Photographique. Also Epson Hot Press Natural (or Bright, if you must). For more texture, there's Epson Velvet Fine Art and Cold Press Natural (again, available in Bright) and Hahnemuhle Museum Etching. All are my favorites and see virtually 100% use in my printer. Agreed, the papers take some adjustment to the contrast and brightness but that's easily accomplished in Lightroom. I set the Brightness to +20 and the Contrast to +25 in the Print module, Print Sharpening to Standard, Media to Matte. Sometimes it takes a little more or less fiddling with those settings but usually the prints look great.

Haha yes, I'm not always so down on the matte papers. My matte paper of choice is Museo Max! It's pretty great. But a sage professor of mine from college used to say that yes, matte papers feel good in your hands, but once it's behind glass, it's all the same. I usually print on matte papers like Museo max when I'm giving loose prints as gifts. They look fantastic in a nice presentation box. I think this soft proofing tool will really save me here, assuming my R3000k doens't let me down. I'm still fighting occasional head strikes and edge streaks.