Best Photo papers for printers

[Richard Taylor]

Is there a website listing the papers to use, and the ones to avoid,
with different inkjet printers?

Been using Jessops Photo Glossy with my Epson R800 and am very pleased
with results. Ran out when printing off loads of holiday snaps and put
some Kodak paper in. Got it on a buy one get one deal.

After just a few prints started to suffer from the classic Epson
serrated roller tram tracks. Bought some more Jessops and all OK.

Now the Jessops paper is resin coated, which may help?

What papers would be OK on the R800?

Richard
--

 

[tenchman]

Try FujiFilm Multijet Glossy, I've been using it on an Epson R200 with a
continuous ink system, and I find it great especially at the great price
from 7dayshop.com.
It is just as good on my HP1220c.
The only complaint I have with it is you can't print on the back, it won't
take any form of printing unlike Epson and HP papers.

David

 

[BernBennett]

Hi Richard,
I assume you're in the UK if you use Jessops.
Don't know about Epson printers as I am a Canon man myself.
I use Fotojet Professional. from www.choicestationery.co.uk; (don't
use the Fotojet website shop, it's much too expensive!!)
Personally I prefer the heavyweight Satin, but they also do a glossy
if that's what you want.

 

[Hecate]

Is there a website listing the papers to use, and the ones to avoid,
with different inkjet printers?

Been using Jessops Photo Glossy with my Epson R800 and am very pleased
with results. Ran out when printing off loads of holiday snaps and put
some Kodak paper in. Got it on a buy one get one deal.

After just a few prints started to suffer from the classic Epson
serrated roller tram tracks. Bought some more Jessops and all OK.

Now the Jessops paper is resin coated, which may help?

What papers would be OK on the R800?

Just about anything. If you want a good selection online at good
prices try:

http://www.on-linepaper.co.uk/

They have some papers at MX2 as well (you might like to try the
Somerset papers):

http://www.mx2.co.uk/

As for names well, Hahnemuhle, Somerset, Permajet, Olmec, Ilford,
Epson... I could go on but I'd have to make it a pdf. ;-)

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Patrick]

I use Fotojet Professional. from www.choicestationery.co.uk; (don't

use the Fotojet website shop, it's much too expensive!!)
Personally I prefer the heavyweight Satin, but they also do a glossy

I second this. Fotojet (made by Folex) gives great results and is now my
paper of choice.
I also use Choicestationary for my supply. They also sell 6x4 boxes of 100.
Although not stated on their site this is Folex Fotojet pro glossy - at
least that's what I receive when I order it.

 

[Dickie mint]

Just about anything. If you want a good selection online at good
prices try:

http://www.on-linepaper.co.uk/

They have some papers at MX2 as well (you might like to try the
Somerset papers):

http://www.mx2.co.uk/

As for names well, Hahnemuhle, Somerset, Permajet, Olmec, Ilford,
Epson... I could go on but I'd have to make it a pdf. ;-)

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

Thanks all!

Choice have a save the VAT offer this week, so I'll get some of their
paper as well as cartridges. At least I'll have saved some money.

I'll also try the Fuji.

I've a feeling the epson printers need the resin coating.

For those not aware, epson STILL use a roller with metal serrated wheels
to precision place the paper. These wheels can dig into the paper
surface and the ink then fails to fill the holes leaving "tram lines".

Regards,
Richard
--

 

[Frederick]

Dickie mint wrote:

I've a feeling the epson printers need the resin coating.

For those not aware, epson STILL use a roller with metal serrated wheels
to precision place the paper. These wheels can dig into the paper
surface and the ink then fails to fill the holes leaving "tram lines".

Regards,
Richard

There is a row of serrated metal wheels that holds the paper down a few
centimeters after it exits where the print heads run across. I think
the tram lines happen after printing - not before. I have read
somewhere that selecting RPM mode, but deselecting bi-directional
printing slows the print down, allowing additional time between the
print hitting the paper, and the fresh ink hitting the rollers.
Ambient temperature, humidity, and absorbtion rate of the paper etc will
influence the severity of this. It doesn't seem to be a problem with
epson papers.

 

[Hecate]

Thanks all!

Choice have a save the VAT offer this week, so I'll get some of their
paper as well as cartridges. At least I'll have saved some money.

I'll also try the Fuji.

I've a feeling the epson printers need the resin coating.

For those not aware, epson STILL use a roller with metal serrated wheels
to precision place the paper. These wheels can dig into the paper
surface and the ink then fails to fill the holes leaving "tram lines".

Regards,
Richard

Yes. Look up "Pizza wheels" on Google for various methods to solve the
problem. The easy way is a little gadget [produced by Permajet
(www.permajet.com).

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I don't know of a specific list, and the problem is that Jessops, as an
example doesn't make the paper they sell, so they might change their
supplier at any time, and change the formulation.

You may be able to get an educated list of suggestions of 3rd party
papers that work well with your printer by directing the question to one
of the several Epson specific Yahoo groups, simply because they will
have more members using your printer.

Art

 

[Arthur Entlich]

In Canada, Fuji markets (or at least did a few months back) two separate
papers, one is designated for HP printers, the other for Epson, Canon
and I believe, Lexmark.

Art

 

[measekite]

I don't know of a specific list, and the problem is that Jessops, as
an example doesn't make the paper they sell, so they might change
their supplier at any time, and change the formulation.

This is true of all 3rd party ink vendors also.

 

[Richard Taylor]

Yes. Look up "Pizza wheels" on Google for various methods to solve the
problem. The easy way is a little gadget [produced by Permajet
(www.permajet.com).

Hmm £25 for a bit of metal plate, I think I'd rather spend the money on
paper that does work OK!

Thanks for that info though!

Regards,

Richard
--

 

[Richard Taylor]

I don't know of a specific list, and the problem is that Jessops, as an
example doesn't make the paper they sell, so they might change their
supplier at any time, and change the formulation.

You may be able to get an educated list of suggestions of 3rd party
papers that work well with your printer by directing the question to one
of the several Epson specific Yahoo groups, simply because they will
have more members using your printer.

Art

Ta!

I did some research on Google, and remember the roller problem from a
few years back. Disappointing that Epson have done nothing to cure it.

I will now email Jessops to check on how they specify their paper and
look for specific Epson groups.

Regards,
Richard
--

 

[Richard Taylor]

This is true of all 3rd party ink vendors also.

Thanks for the info.

Bearing that in mind I only buy Epson Ink for the R800.

The older 880 seems OK on ink from Choice Stationery!

Regards,
Richard
--

 

[measekite]

Thanks for the info.

Bearing that in mind I only buy Epson Ink for the R800.

I have seen a professional print from the R800 done on Epson Premium
Glossy Paper. It look nice. Still, most people claim that dye base
prints are more vibrant and provide more snap. For portraits that might
no make a big difference.

Have you tried Cost/Kirkland paper with OEM R800 or other non Epson
papers? If so how do the results compare. It would get very expensive
to use Epson pigmented inks and then have to use Epson papers to get the
best results. And spending what the R800/1800 costs you would want to
get the very best you can or why buy it.

Also the Epson Premium Glossy seems heavier than non Epson Glossy.
Could this be because of the extra weight of pigmented inks and the
gloss optimizer?

 

[Richard Taylor]

I have seen a professional print from the R800 done on Epson Premium
Glossy Paper. It look nice. Still, most people claim that dye base
prints are more vibrant and provide more snap. For portraits that might
no make a big difference.

Have you tried Cost/Kirkland paper with OEM R800 or other non Epson
papers? If so how do the results compare. It would get very expensive
to use Epson pigmented inks and then have to use Epson papers to get the
best results. And spending what the R800/1800 costs you would want to
get the very best you can or why buy it.

Also the Epson Premium Glossy seems heavier than non Epson Glossy.
Could this be because of the extra weight of pigmented inks and the
gloss optimizer?

(Here in the UK) Jessops paper was rated No.1 in a magazine review last
year. As Discount retailers they often have Buy one, get one free
offers, which they did late last year. I bought 1 box of 50, getting
another free. Thought 100 sheets was enough for ages. Until now! with
300 photos to print from a jaunt around the world. Otherwise I'd be
blissfully unaware of any problem. Hence the post!

I don't want to go to the expense of running trials myself, and I'm not
in the proper set up to comment expertly.

I was hoping to gleam the collective experience of newsgroup folk.

The thread replies here have been useful though, thanks to all.

 

[Frederick]

measekite wrote:

Also the Epson Premium Glossy seems heavier than non Epson Glossy.
Could this be because of the extra weight of pigmented inks and the
gloss optimizer?

I would think not! The total weight of the ink and optimiser on a sheet
would be best measured in milligrams per m2 after the ink has dried.

 

[Hecate]

Yes. Look up "Pizza wheels" on Google for various methods to solve the
problem. The easy way is a little gadget [produced by Permajet
(www.permajet.com).

Hmm £25 for a bit of metal plate, I think I'd rather spend the money on
paper that does work OK!

Thanks for that info though!

You miss the point - it's not the paper it's the printer.

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Hecate]

(Here in the UK) Jessops paper was rated No.1 in a magazine review last
year.

Too thin. Not particularly good coating. YMMV.

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

 

[Frederick]

Ta!

I did some research on Google, and remember the roller problem from a
few years back. Disappointing that Epson have done nothing to cure it.

I will now email Jessops to check on how they specify their paper and
look for specific Epson groups.

Regards,
Richard

If you want to save a few bucks on paper (but remember that even with
OEM Epsom Paper at normal retail price, the paper cost is less than half
of the ink cost), then Lyson Pro Colour Photo Gloss seems okay on an
R1800. I have had no problems with it.

It isn't necessarily disappointing that Epson haven't "done anything to
cure it".
Read you manual, and please direct me to anything that Epson, or any
other consumer inkjet manufacturers say that fully endorse use of their
printers with third party papers. You have just found out that the
reason for this isn't all cynical profiteering.
Epson's ink technology is quite different from most others - for very
specific reasons. I have no doubt that they are aware of the "problem",
and their "decision" "not to cure it" is based on sound technical reasoning.

If you want to persist in using unsuitable papers, then have you tried
the suggestion to disable bi-directional printing to slow the speed down?