Photo paper question

[Simpo Two]

I don't do much photo printing, but when I do I like it to to be good.

I've just finished a sample pack of HP Premium Plus Photo Paper, which gave superb results, and was staggered to see that Staples want £25 for 50 sheets!

So I took a recommendation to try a Tesco product, 'Super Glossy A4 Inkjet Photo' (50 sheets for £5.87) and it looks fine. Only trouble is, it's too thick to go through my HP C5280 printer - it's 260gsm and quite rigid, and it just can't make the curve round the roller at the back.

Does anyone here use an HP printer for photos, and if so what paper do they find works best?

[cirks]

Simpo Two said:

Does anyone here use an HP printer for photos

Yes - but the A3+ B9180 and that can take canvas and thick card

Simpo Two said:

and if so what paper do they find works best?

The HP Advanced Gloss is good but too glossy for my liking. Most of the time I use "Harman Gloss FB Al" which I find excellent for colour or BW. For other BW I haven't quite made my mind up between "Harman FB Mp Warmtone" or Permajet Oyster.

Hope that helps....

[Dogsey]

I use an Epson rather than an HP but I love the Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl paper, 7dayshop do it for about £9 per pack of 25 sheets.

[Major Bloodnok]

Dogsey said:

I use an Epson rather than an HP but I love the Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl paper, 7dayshop do it for about £9 per pack of 25 sheets.

+1 for Ilford Galerie (gloss as well, but that's getting increasingly hard to find offline).

[cirks]

a friend uses the Ilford Galerie Pearl too and it does look excellent from his cheap Epson

[stigmundfreud]

tesco paper is axtually rather good in my experience, certainly on the rare occasion I've splashed out on paper I've found it outperformed big brand stuff. Also consider costco as they have their own brand (cannot remember name) which is rebranded ilfords good stuff, not the stuff they sell to jessops

[Yellabelly]

Epson Printer and using Epson premium glossy, Permajet Oyster & Permajet Museum Classic

[GetCarter]

Simpo Two said:

So I took a recommendation to try a Tesco product, 'Super Glossy A4 Inkjet Photo' (50 sheets for £5.87)

Of no help, but that's what I use all the time now, in my Epson 2100

[Simpo Two]

GetCarter said:

Simpo Two said:

So I took a recommendation to try a Tesco product, 'Super Glossy A4 Inkjet Photo' (50 sheets for £5.87)

Of no help, but that's what I use all the time now, in my Epson 2100

Epsons have a much straighter paper-feed, so that's why it works for you - but it's obviously decent stuff. I may go back to Tesco and see if they have something a little less thick.

I have avoided Epson paper because I believe Epson uses ink whilst HP uses pigment, so the surface may well be wrong for them.

No-one else use an HP?

[Athlon]

stigmundfreud said:

tesco paper is axtually rather good in my experience, certainly on the rare occasion I've splashed out on paper I've found it outperformed big brand stuff. Also consider costco as they have their own brand (cannot remember name) which is rebranded ilfords good stuff, not the stuff they sell to jessops

Costco paper is the Kirkland pro I believe?

[cirks]

My HP is obviously pigment and the papers I suggested are fine for that. A number of the other papers suggested should be fine for you too. You do have to be careful with the labelling of the HP papers though as some are suitable and some most definately not suitable for pigment inks (it's easy to get wrong especially with the non "Advanced" papers).

[Simpo Two]

cirks said:

My HP is obviously pigment and the papers I suggested are fine for that.

I suppose I didn't bite immediately because 'Harman Gloss FB Al' sounds even more expensive than HP and I've never heard of it!

[Gumstabber]

My dad does a lot of printing for competitions and galleries and he tends to go with the Ilford range of papers from memory.

Edited by Gumstabber on Saturday 16th January 10:34

[cirks]

Simpo Two said:

cirks said:

My HP is obviously pigment and the papers I suggested are fine for that.

I suppose I didn't bite immediately because 'Harman Gloss FB Al' sounds even more expensive than HP and I've never heard of it!

Ah, good point, I had forgotten that it is pretty pricey (I shouldn't have checked following your comment!)....It's about 80p a sheet for A4 and around £1.30 A3+.

There's an interesting comparative review of Harman vs Ilford etc at http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?show...

[mcflurry]

Jacobs had a selection of Ilford and Kodak paper with a buy one, get one half price deal during the week. Maybe worth a visit if you're local to them?