Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

I had an e-mail from Ilford yesterday:
Terry

 8) Did they mention having new printer profiles ready or coming soon?

Fred

Fred,
The e-mail also said When you go the  download page it also says to check you are using the correct profile and gives info' on how to recognise the new paper from the boxes.
However, I downloaded a profile for my R800 and there was only the one, which seemed to be the old one.
I'll see if I can e-mail Ilford later an get some clarification.
Terry

OK, I've done that via the Ilford web site. We'll see what they say  ???

I had a very quick reply from Ilford  :)
Interesting  :o

So the bottom line is: Any need for a new profile is printer specific, which, in this case, refers to the type of ink that model uses.
Thanks for the extra effort.
Fred

I just reread your post.
So there will be new profiles being made for Ilford's new paper line.
That's good news!  I just wish they would use simpler names for their profiles for my old head.!

Obviously, if the profiles were really the same, they would have no backlog to clear; just downloads; like Qimage  ;)
Fred

As I read it, new profiles for dye ink printers only; pigment inks profiles stay as they are, eg. R800/1800 so you, like me, can relax.
Terry.

I really like Ilford and used to use their silver-based paper in preference over Kodak, whenever possible.  Their inkjet has given me fits from time to time.  Since I RARELY print gloss, the pigment papers are what I use. 

This new Ilford announcement has me curious.  "Improved tonal range, Higher sharpness, Greater contrast, Wider colour gamut."  Okay, Epson, Kodak and all the others say that.

If the profile is the same, where is the tonal range, contrast and gamut coming from?   I remember Epson doing this a few years back--changing the names (to confuse us?) and upping the price.  New and improved. Same profiles.

So, what's the verdict?  Has anybody here tried the new paper with pigment?  I mean a new and old test of the same image?

TIA,

From the marketing boss?   ::)

However, I will try a roll on a Z3100.

from my earlier post, Ilford said after I enquired with them:
So it's dye inks only that need new profiles, no change for pigment.
Terry.

Doesn't make sense to me.  They changed the coating enough that it affected dye inks.  How could a "change" make it absolutely the same response as before for pigment?

I agree, we'll have to wait to try the new version but I have a stock of the original to use up first.
Terry.

Anyone tried the "new" Ilford Smooth papers yet?
I'm about to buy some and wondered if there's some experience out there.
Terry.

Seth, I've just seen the same printer/ink combo on both the old and new version of Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl (IGSPP11, new vs IGSPP9,old). The sample pair was recently sent to me by a another member of the AaI&A digital print research program.  He used a third party pigmented ink in an Epson R1800 printer and the new coating definitely increased the color gamut and minimized bronzing in the shadows. Enough so, that I offered to make a custom profile (not a service I provide normally) for this AaI&A member so that we can really get the best initial image quality out of both papers before putting them into light fade testing.  Perhaps with major OEM pigmented ink sets the initial image quality differences aren't quite as dramatic, but based on what I've seen, I'd say Ilford should reconsider telling people a different profile isn't needed for pigmented inks.

According to a technical paper I read on the new paper formulation, there is a new subbing layer to wick off the ink solvent more quickly and separate it from the colorant. Also a new nano particle dispersion technology, so all in all, it is truly a different paper yet with the same name. My only wish is that Ilford had lightened up a bit on the OBA content, but we will have to light fade test it to see how significant the OBA burnout response is.

cheers,

Mark
http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com

I received my delivery of both the new Smooth Pearl and Smooth Gloss the other day and have been able to do some comparisons. This is on an R800 with Epson inks and using custom profiles I purchased for the "old" versions.
The first thing I noticed was the the blank paper has a warmer look to it compared with the old.
I did a print of the same set of images on both types of Smooth Gloss paper. The images had a wide dynamic range but most colours were not particularly saturated, just a few areas of red & blue.
The colours looked identical and I could not see any evidence of a wider dynamic range as Ilford say. However, I do try to control that in the image before printing and I assume a new custom profile would be needed to take advantage of that feature.
I've never had any particular problem with bronzing, especially on the Pearl paper. My test print on Gloss was definitely better with the new regarding the gloss appearance, it was smoother and probably now close to what Epson Premium Gloss paper produces.
How did you judge the increase in colour gamut? It will be interesting to see a comparison of the gamut plots when the new profile is made.

I downloaded the Ilford profiles for this paper, there is no differentiation for the old & the new  when you choose what to download and the profiles names still have the "9" designation.
I would agree with that, especially from what you say about the change in coating technology.
Terry.