Thoughts on new Kirkland paper

[qwertydude]

I just got some in. Some things I notice, it is just an almost imperceptible hint less glossy and also slightly less pearlescent. As for how it prints, after printing using the old and new profiles on the old paper it seems the new paper requires slightly less ink to produce the same colors. That new "brighter color" feature means that the paper must be more sensitive to color, meaning slightly less less ink is used to generate an identical color in the new paper.

I think because the paper uses slightly less ink, it may fade just a bit faster. Canon paper tends to suck up the ink. When printing with the Kirkland profile on Canon paper I notice the color is more washed out. So I guess using the extra ink means more color is there and it fades slower.

 

[fish]

I purchased a pack of the "new" Kirkland paper (tulip picture) and will run a fade test with Image Specialist ink. The old paper faded very quickly, most likely because of the high UV and ozone levels. I learned of fading from a carpet company that indicated accelerated fading of carpets installed on the windward coast of the island (where I live) for certain color dyes. Like they say "Lucky you live Hawaii" (except if you have a dye printer).

If fade is a problem, I will use the paper for proofs as in the past.

 

[mikling]

Thanks to fotofreek who helped me acquire some of the newer papers. I have started profiling them and as for Canon printers with my inks, for the most part, the profiles actually are quite similar and there will be no dramatic difference between one and the other. The newer papers have a different finish and the thickness is slightly down according to my fingers.( A most scientific method I might add) The most important thing is that the papers are brightened more. So for those who like brightened papers it is a plus.

For those who have stocked up on the older generation, I actually would tilt towards the older version myself if I owned a Canon printer and didn't care for brightened papers.

Now for Epsons, something interesting comes up. I profiled an Epson R200 with the new Kirkland and I could not believe my eyes. There is a synergy going on here. The R200 is now able to delve into the shadows like it never could before with the older Kirkland. It is picking up difficult color tones that even the Pro9000 is not getting to. Huh??? Don't ask me why but it does what it does and like I said I was surprised myself.

On the newer dye based printers post eg. R280 etc. the color performance is not as good as on the R200. So here is what happens, except for a slight bit of grain (only seen with a loupe) the older ( read very old) Epson R200 is as best I can see, now a superior printer to the R260....to the Stylus Photo 1400.

Huh? Don't get me wrong in thinking that the new models are bad. It is just that the new paper puts life into the old model that one would not expect and something magical happens. Something really special. The compromise is that it is a slow printer but in these economic times, who's going to complain when these printers go for $10 to $20 on Craigslist and can provide as good or better tones than .........the Pro9000. Hold back the flames, I haven't put on the asbestos suit yet. Yeah there are those who despise these printers but the one at my sister hardly gets used, has a DIY CISS I put on it and when I get there to print out the sheets, no problem with head cleaning or clogging. None required. BTW her MP830 gets used more and is equally reliable, so don't think it is an Epson biased situation.

When used with pigment inks, again the profiles are hardly different. Pigment ink as opposed to dye appears to be less sensitive to paper. Despite that, it is mainly a question or brightened vs. less brightened papers as the determination as which is better.

The key issue is that the paper has not become undesirable and that is good news and a sigh of relief.

Cheers.

 

[qwertydude]

Yeah when I say slight difference it is really really slight. To notice it you've got to pretty much be in a brightly lit room with both of them not just side by side but overlapping so you can see the sharp transition from one set of color to the other.