Epson’s New Exhibition Fiber Paper is “The Real Dealâ€
On Monday, Epson announced their Signature Worthy Exhibition Fiber paper, and last week before their announcement, Epson sent me some printed samples, and a stack of sheets that I could test for myself. I have to tell you—this new paper is absolutely ‘the real deal.’
The black and white reproduction on this paper is just off the charts for anything I’ve seen coming out of an inkjet, and I’m now spoiled to the point that I’m not sure I’ll be able to print on anything else. I really think the texture, look and feel of this new fiber-based paper is going to finally win over that last bastion of the photographer who was clinging on to the notion that lab prints were still king. This is that big a deal.
Also, I found this interesting; while this new Exhibition Fiber paper is now clearly THE paper for black and white, I was stunned by the quality and richness of the color reproduction as well. This paper is just sick!!! (in a really, really good way).
Here’s a link to Epson’s Pro Imaging site, and here’s Epson’s press release on this new paper, and while you should definitely read it to catch all the technical blah-blah that I skipped, you’re going to have to see it and feel it for yourself to fall in love with it (and believe me, you will).
Scott,
How’s this paper compare to Hahnemuhle Photo Rag which I’ve always considered to be THE paper for black and white?
Darn! There’s no profiles for the Epson 2200
Scott:
I can’t find out from the press release whether the new paper is acid-free and also OBA-free, both of which are true for papers like Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Pearl, and not true for Epson Enhanced Matte. Do you know the answer? Thanks, David
And no profiles for the R1800… double-darn…
Scott,
I find it interesting that Pixel Genius does NOT provide profiles for the Epson R2400, even though the new fiber paper is supposedly designed to be used with printers that utilize the ultrachrome inkset, which the R2400 does indeed use. The quote below was cut & paste from epson’s website:
“Exhibition Fiber Paper is a breakthrough paper, designed exclusively for use with Epson’s UltraChrome K3 ink”
Do you by any chance have any info as to why the R2400 was left out?
Thanks,
-Ade
It appears to be a triple darn !
I also use a Epson R2400 and would be interested to find out if the ICC profile from Pixel Genius for the new paper would also work on R2400.
While on the subject of profiles, has anyone been able to load any Epson provided ICC profiles into either Lightroom or PS running under Vista ?
Scott – like everyone else here – looking forward to your new book.
I would be very curious to see how it stacks up against the Portfolio Rag from Crane
http://www.crane.com/museo/museoportfoliorag.aspx
I was a Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 user for all my fine prints till the Portfolio Rag.
I print on an older Epson 4000 and don’t plan on changing that anytime soon.
Since the profiles for the paper are for the newer UltraChrome K3 inks, I would like to see what kind of performance it gets from the older line of Epson printers. Even though I love new papers, I don’t plan on getting rid of my Epson 4000 any time soon.
I love the output I get from it and it still prints like a champ.
HI Scott, can you tell us which epson printer you used to try this paper?
Hi. I picked up a sample 5 sheet at the Photo Expo last Thursday and they told me I could get the icc off the web. I cannot find it anywhere. Do you know where I can find the icc color profile for this “Signature Worthy” paper?
Thank you.
Scott,
Is there any Exhibition Fiber in 17 x 22 sheets to be found at this time?
It looks like R2400 profiles are available from PixelGenius now (http://pixelgenius.com/epson/). I’ve still got my fingers crossed that the other UltraChrome printers will show up eventually, although it’s possible that Epson only intends this paper to be used with the K3 version of that ink set.
As a side note, I don’t personally have experience with either Epson Fiber Paper or the rag papers other posters have mentioned, but as I understand it this is meant to compete more with the new baryta papers (Hahnemuhle Fine Art Baryta 325, Harman Gloss FB AI, and Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk) than it is with matte fine art papers. Matte rag papers are a whole ‘nother beast.
Having tested the EPSON Exhibition Fiber Paper on the new EPSON 11880 and 9880 I found the paper to have a wide gamut and produces excellent black and whites. The only negative comment I would give the paper is that it needs extreme care when handling, scratches way too easy for my uses. The paper also marks very easy, even with your finger and general handling (run your finger across the paper then hold it at an angle, you will see the smudge). Working in the industry and testing all of the new papers that come to market, I would give the EPSON Exhibition Fiber Paper a solid B rating. Giving a choice of what to put through my printers I would choose either the Hahnemule FineArt Baryta 325 (the black and white prints are amazing, especially with the new EPSON Vivid K3 inks. My other choice would be the “ILFORD GALERIE GOLD FIBRE SILK”, I give both the Ilford and Hahnemuhle papers an A. For my testing custom ICC profiles were created using the Gretagmacbeth/Xrite Eye One Photo profiling system.
For those interested in GREEN papers check out Hahnemuhle Bamboo 290. Truly an amazing fine art paper that is Eco Friendly.
To answer Doug Dowdy’s question about the sizes for the EPSON Fiber paper, here are the sizes with EPSON’s SKU
Epson Paper Exhibition Fiber Paper – 8.5″x11″ 25 Sheets (SKU S045033)
Epson Paper Exhibition Fiber Paper – 13″x19″ 25 Sheets (SKU S045037)
Epson Paper Exhibition Fiber Paper – 17″x22″ 25 Sheets (Sku S045039)
Epson Paper Exhibition Fiber Paper – 24″x30″ 25 Sheets (SKU S045042)
Happy Printing!
RLF
Hi Scott,
Google brought me to you and the above article on Epson’s new exhibition paper. Thank you so much for posting this. At present – I only have the Epson 2400 – altho I am hoping to get the 3880 at some point.’
I followed one of your subscriber’s comments to download the profile for the 2400 – which I’ve done. It’s sitting on my desktop but when I just went to print something – My Epson menu doesn’t seem to list it – unless the listing is Ultrasmooth fine art paper – I’m wondering – now that I have the proflle – how do I get it into this lift?
Thank you for giving this your attention. I am realy keen to try the new paper!
All the best! Andee
Epson sent me a sample of Ex and just printed on my 7800 color. Amazing, and I will try bk n wht next. Epson has a special on this an other cut sheets. Buy 4 of the several pkg cut sheets and get a refund on the two lowest pkg. Well, pkg of 25 ea Exhibiton 17 x22 is $140.00 each. Bought 4 for $560.00 and I get a refund of
$280.00. Other size are 13 x 19=$104 ea or 8 1/2 x 11 for $44.00 each. Buy between NOV 1 and Dec 31. Claim must be postmarked within 30Days. http://www.epson.com/promtions
Atlex.com has Exhibition Fine Art 8 1/2 x 11 @ $25 for 25 sheets – and it qualifies for the buy 4, get 2 packs free (via rebate). Seems like a great deal for an amazing paper:
http://www.atlex.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=S045033
Eley, Oliver, Price, et al. ,