Printer paper

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KH

Why is photo printer paper so expensive and what is a good source? I'm new
to this digital camera business. I have an Epson Stylus C84.

Thanks,

Karl
 
KH typed:
Why is photo printer paper so expensive and what is a good source?
I'm new to this digital camera business. I have an Epson Stylus C84.

Thanks,

Karl
Click to expand...

Because normal paper is made from wood (well, basically), while photo paper
is made from artificial materials, which are (still) expensive and as a
consequence photo paper is expensive. It's because they doesn't contain
wood, they don't absorb so much ink which results in smaller drops and
better quality.
What kind of paper is best for your printer, you'll have to test it, since
printers differ in such manners.
 
KH typed:


Because normal paper is made from wood (well, basically), while photo paper
is made from artificial materials, which are (still) expensive and as a
consequence photo paper is expensive. It's because they doesn't contain
wood, they don't absorb so much ink which results in smaller drops and
better quality.
What kind of paper is best for your printer, you'll have to test it, since
printers differ in such manners.
Click to expand...
What artificial materials, please.
LP
 
Larry said:
What artificial materials, please.
LP
Click to expand...


Technically traditional paper is made from shards or fibers of wood (and
other things to give it body), and photo papers for darkroom use had
plastic resin added to this. I suspect that this is true of ink-jet photo
papers as well. You don't want no absorbtion, or the ink would take
forever to dry, but controlled absorbtion, where the dot doesn't spread
out in the texture of the wood fiber. The top coating would accomplish
this, of course, but to get a paper that tears so neatly for "borderless"
prints you'd have plastic in it.

Brendan
--
 
Technically traditional paper is made from shards or fibers of wood (and
other things to give it body), and photo papers for darkroom use had
plastic resin added to this. I suspect that this is true of ink-jet photo
papers as well. You don't want no absorbtion, or the ink would take
forever to dry, but controlled absorbtion, where the dot doesn't spread
out in the texture of the wood fiber. The top coating would accomplish
this, of course, but to get a paper that tears so neatly for "borderless"
prints you'd have plastic in it.

Brendan
Click to expand...

I thought the original statement implied that photo paper had no wood fiber
in it.
LP
 
Technically traditional paper is made from shards or fibers of wood (and
other things to give it body), and photo papers for darkroom use had
plastic resin added to this. I suspect that this is true of ink-jet photo
papers as well. You don't want no absorbtion, or the ink would take
forever to dry, but controlled absorbtion, where the dot doesn't spread
out in the texture of the wood fiber. The top coating would accomplish
this, of course, but to get a paper that tears so neatly for "borderless"
prints you'd have plastic in it.

Brendan
Click to expand...


There is a more traditional reason for the cost of Photo Paper being
as high as it is; Volume. Regardless of what it is made from, there
are dozens (maybe hundreds) of manufacturers of standard paper,
whereas there are just a few makers of Photo Paper, selling far less
volume, ergo, the high cost. Even with that, Photo Paper is half the
cost today of what it was a year ago.
 
Brendan R. Wehrung typed:
Technically traditional paper is made from shards or fibers of wood
(and other things to give it body), and photo papers for darkroom use
had plastic resin added to this. I suspect that this is true of
ink-jet photo papers as well. You don't want no absorbtion, or the
ink would take forever to dry, but controlled absorbtion, where the
dot doesn't spread out in the texture of the wood fiber. The top
coating would accomplish this, of course, but to get a paper that
tears so neatly for "borderless" prints you'd have plastic in it.

Brendan
Click to expand...

Thanks :-)

BTW: to larry..did you thought that i'll reveale all secrets of making a
photo paper? I wrote just basics. And basically, photo is made from plastic,
whatever...maybe it does contain wood, but way less than normal ink jet
paper. Remember, wood itself absorb liquid and as well ink, while plastic
doesn't. I've read that paper making with plastic is far more complex
process than making from wood. That's why the price.
But i think if quantity would be anormous, it would go way down...so, start
buying it!!
 
Thanks. I found them yesterday and thought I would give one of their
Photographers Sample Kits a try, but they do not say what the paper size is.
Do you know?

Thanks,

Karl
 
If you are concerned about cost and want a glossy paper that is suitable for
everyday printing try the Epson glossy photo paper that is available at
Costco for $20 for a 120 sheet pack. This is good paper, but it is not
premium paper that would be better used for exhibition prints. I find the
results to be very good.
 
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