my reviews on some inkjet photo papers

[Joe]

Canon Photo Paper Pro is the best for inkjet printers; but, it is
expensive.
I have finally found a paper that is exactly similar in quality of
photo prints to Canon's. It is Kirkland's Glossy Ink Jet Photo Paper
(the only generic that Costco carries...Kirkland is Costco's product
line)
The quality is the best on this Costco paper.
I have also tried Kodak's Ultima picture paper; but, I just get lower
quality prints with fine streaks across faces (and a smudgy look) and
it does not dry quick enough to stack one on top of the other.

 

[Bob Headrick]

Canon Photo Paper Pro is the best for inkjet printers; but, it is
expensive.
I have finally found a paper that is exactly similar in quality of
photo prints to Canon's. It is Kirkland's Glossy Ink Jet Photo Paper
(the only generic that Costco carries...Kirkland is Costco's product
line)

Are you suggesting this paper or Canon paper is best for *all* inkjet printers?
If so your credibility is suspect. If not it would help to specify which
printers you have tested this with, what printer settings were used, what color
matching if any needed to be applied, etc, etc, etc. It would also help to
specify what is the measure of "best" - lightfastness, durability, image
quality or ???.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
(not speaking for my employer HP)

 

[Douglas]

I was going to say the same thing! Also how can something be "exactly
similar"? If it's exact,it is NOT similar.If it is similar,it is NOT exact!
Joe,don't take this the wrong way,but your "reviews" are all wet!

 

[Guest]

Bob,
When I say the best, I mean sharpness of detail, color, drying time
and thickness of paper among other things.
I used Kirkland paper on my Canon i9100 printer after trying all kinds
of papers. Canon recommends the photo paper pro. The photo paper pro
is the best. The Kodak is the worst. Epson papers are second best.
NCR is a great paper; but, it is too thin and curls. Hammermill makes
an ultrajet that is excellent; and, ties with Epson. Royal is third.
Kirkland (Costco) is exactly similar in quality to the photo paper pro
which surprized me! That is why I posted to the group to share my
expense and knowledge.
I would say that what ever paper the manufacturer recommends for their
inkjet is the best for their inkjet printers; but, I was surprized to
find out that the 10mil paper by Kirkland could "tie" first place with
canon in my amateur test.
Thanks for your post, Bob.
Joe

Are you suggesting this paper or Canon paper is best for *all* inkjet
printers?
If so your credibility is suspect. If not it would help to specify
which
printers you have tested this with, what printer settings were used,

what color

matching if any needed to be applied, etc, etc, etc. It would also

help to

 

[Hecate]

I would say that what ever paper the manufacturer recommends for their
inkjet is the best for their inkjet printers;

And I would say that it's a nasty rumour put about by printer
manufacturers to earn them more money

My experience of good quality independent papers and inks means I
would not concur with your comments.

 

[Douglas]

Well,there are times when a certain paper is "better" than what the
manufacturer recommends.You have tried very few of the papers out there.You
found a couple that work for you,that's good.I have about 200 brands/types
of papers on hand.Some work better with one type of printing,but not that
great with others.Most of my papers are also profiled,as are my printers.I
don't think I have any Kirkland paper though.I live in the USA,is that a UK
paper?It might be worth checking out.Happy Printing!

 

[SteveB]

Generally speaking if a paper dries quickly then it's very prone to gas
fade, and vice versa, so there is no 'best' paper yet unfortunately. It all
depends on your priorities and your brand of printer as the high volume of
ink ejected per second in a fast Canon for instance means it won't like
papers that can't absorb at the required rate, giving a blotchy 'pooled'
effect, but the same paper will be fine with a slower printer. Your 'best'
Canon paper has a poor reputation for fading, but does give superb results
straight out of the printer (Canon I presume in your case).

FWIW I like Ilford Printasia on my HP 5550. Good compromise paper, long
non-fade life and dries better than HP paper so it doesn't stick in album
sleeves, and it will just about put up with sweaty fingers handling it,
which a lot of non-fading papers won't.

 

[Bob Headrick]

Bob,
When I say the best, I mean sharpness of detail, color, drying time
and thickness of paper among other things.
I used Kirkland paper on my Canon i9100 printer after trying all kinds
of papers. Canon recommends the photo paper pro. The photo paper pro
is the best. The Kodak is the worst. Epson papers are second best.
NCR is a great paper; but, it is too thin and curls. Hammermill makes
an ultrajet that is excellent; and, ties with Epson. Royal is third.
Kirkland (Costco) is exactly similar in quality to the photo paper pro
which surprized me! That is why I posted to the group to share my
expense and knowledge.

Thanks for the clarifications. I will take a look at this paper the next time
I get to Costco.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[Guest]

Steve & everyone else,
Thanks for your posts.
There is a feature on my printer (Canon i9100) which allows me
to print slower. The "ink drying wait time" can be extended.
This would allow me to print on the papers that "pool" ink.
I will try this. Thanks for your time; and, knowledge.
It helps a lot in my amateur hobby.
Joe

 

[PTRAVEL]

Canon Photo Paper Pro is the best for inkjet printers; but, it is
expensive.
I have finally found a paper that is exactly similar in quality of
photo prints to Canon's. It is Kirkland's Glossy Ink Jet Photo Paper
(the only generic that Costco carries...Kirkland is Costco's product
line)
The quality is the best on this Costco paper.
I have also tried Kodak's Ultima picture paper; but, I just get lower
quality prints with fine streaks across faces (and a smudgy look) and
it does not dry quick enough to stack one on top of the other.

Though I've had good luck with Kodak Ultima, I'd like to try the Kirkland.
Does it come larger than letter size? I need 13 x 19.

 

[Mickey]

Steve & everyone else,
Thanks for your posts.
There is a feature on my printer (Canon i9100) which allows me
to print slower. The "ink drying wait time" can be extended.
This would allow me to print on the papers that "pool" ink.
I will try this. Thanks for your time; and, knowledge.
It helps a lot in my amateur hobby.
Joe

Thanks Joe for your comments. Have noticed Costco had replaced the
Epson paper with their own house brand. Was wondering if it was any
good. Will give it a try on my I860.

I remember seeing the paper being made in Europe but can't recall
which country now. I do remember it wasn't a country I associated
with computer products.

Mickey

 

[Guest]

Kirkland comes only in 8.5 x 11.
You might want to try Canon's papers which come in a few sizes larger.

 

[Burt]

Kirkland (costco) glossy print paper works great in my Canon I960. I set
the paper type to glossy photo paper and the control on manual (not
automatic) and reduce the intensity to -4 as the prints are slightly
oversaturated in my opinion. Color accuracy is excelent, but I can't tell
you anything about possible later color shifts or fading as I've just
started using this paper. The price is right - $19 per 125 8 x 11.5
sheets - and 15 or 20 minutes at the paper cutter makes 375 4 x 6 or 250 5 x
7 sheets for quick borderless printing.
Burt

 

[Anoni Moose]

Generally speaking if a paper dries quickly then it's very prone to gas
fade, and vice versa, so there is no 'best' paper yet unfortunately. It all
depends on your priorities and your brand of printer as the high volume of
ink ejected per second in a fast Canon for instance means it won't like
papers that can't absorb at the required rate, giving a blotchy 'pooled'
effect, but the same paper will be fine with a slower printer. Your 'best'
Canon paper has a poor reputation for fading, but does give superb results
straight out of the printer (Canon I presume in your case).

Canon Photo Paper Pro has a "poor reputation for fading"? With BCI-6 inks
that many Canon inkjets use, it was rated 38 years by Wilhelm, and that
was the older version before it was improved early this year for gas-fading
effects such that for "Album use" (dark and gas sealed), Canon rates it
for a Century. As good as Epson 2200 prints? Not at all. Epson's glossy
(which the Canon paper is) is rated by Wilhelm for 50 years. Their matte
paper is rated for near a century. So is that canon paper the very best
for fade characteristics? Nope, it's not. But is 38 years (or a
Century) "poor" performance worthy of such a reputation? I don't think so.

Mike

P.S. - Wilhelm numbers:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,105461,pg,3,00.asp

 

[Ray R]

Kirkland (costco) glossy print paper works great in my Canon I960. I set
the paper type to glossy photo paper and the control on manual (not
automatic) and reduce the intensity to -4 as the prints are slightly
oversaturated in my opinion. Color accuracy is excelent, but I can't tell
you anything about possible later color shifts or fading as I've just
started using this paper. The price is right - $19 per 125 8 x 11.5
sheets - and 15 or 20 minutes at the paper cutter makes 375 4 x 6 or 250 5 x
7 sheets for quick borderless printing.
Burt

To maximum use of the paper cut 2 4x6 and 1 5x7 per sheet. This would
give you 250 4x6 and 125 5x7 per package. My prefered size for small
prints is 4.25 x 5.5. This is 4 prints per sheet with very little
cropping on pictures from most digital cameras.

My favorite paper is Konica Minolta premium weight 100 8.5 x 11 for $15
from Fry's.

 

[Te]

I have used the Fry's brand (GQ) high gloss premium photo paper, which is
8.5x11 sheets, 20 for $0.99 usually on the weekends. I have had exceptional
luck with this paper in my HP Photosmart 7660 printer. and at less than $1
for 20 sheets, well..... its hard to beat.

 

[SteveB]

What about the many dpreview forum posts from users that have had their
Canon prints fade in weeks? I hope you're right about your Canon ink/paper
having been improved because the tests at
http://www.livick.com/method/inkjet/pg2d.htm gave a 2yr rating for S9000 OEM
inks on Canon Photo Paper Pro.

 

[Anoni Moose]

What about the many dpreview forum posts from users that have had their
Canon prints fade in weeks? I hope you're right about your Canon ink/paper
having been improved because the tests at
http://www.livick.com/method/inkjet/pg2d.htm gave a 2yr rating for S9000 OEM
inks on Canon Photo Paper Pro.

I don't know. They may have laser printers nearby or maybe one
of those Sharper Image air cleaners that spew out ionized air.
Ozone is somewhat of a bleach, particularly for inkjet prints.
In any case, I don't think much of livick's test methods (unless
they've changed) so what they say means little to me.

I've a 4"x6" print of my wife made on my i9900 when I first got
it about five or six months ago. It's attached to my monitor
immediately next to the glass portion of the screen. Has a full
spectra, including blues (cyan ink). It's out in the open (no
glass 'sealing' cover as one should have). Building windows cover
about 75% of the high wall nearby about 15 feet away (south facing for
the last couple months, I've moved from a West facing location).
No direct sun on the prints, but it is brightly lit indirectly
every day there's sunshine (like now). No fade visible at all.
How would they explain that when theirs fades quickly?

Mike

P.S. - Plus I've many other prints that I've made, none has shown
any fading in MUCH more than a few weeks. I will admit that
I haven't had them laying in direct sun all day every day, nor
are they near a laser printer (although at home, our all-house
electronic air cleaner does produce some residual ozone so I
really should be covering them with frames or album sheets).

 

[SteveB]

That's the nature of fading, some get it and some don't. I don't and you
don't, so we're both lucky.

 

[Joe]

I am curious if the Kirkland paper holds up to fading.
Has anyone tried out this paper yet?
Joe