p.1 #1 · "bronzing" dependent on paper, ink, or both?
I received some prints today, one of which was printed twice on two different papers using the same printer.
I was surprised to see that when there was reflective glare from a light, the two prints looked very different. One had substantial "bronzing" where there were strange reflections and color shifts in the print, whereas in the other print, the colors stayed pretty true and didn't exhibit a lot of "bronzing" from the glare (but yes the colors still got washed out by the reflection).
I was under the impression that "bronzing" or "gloss differential" was mainly due to the ink used? In this case, both prints were made on the same printer and the same ink, and subsequently viewed under the same light. The only difference was the paper.
Does anyone know more about the nature of bronzing? What is the physical cause of this behavior? Is it possible for one paper to have better/worse bronzing characteristics than another, even when using the same ink?
Norman
Here is a picture showing the effects. This is deliberately set up to highlight the differences, but even when I put them on the wall opposite a lamp, I can still clearly see these effects. http://www.umich.edu/~nakm/pics/bronzing.jpg
p.1 #2 · "bronzing" dependent on paper, ink, or both?
Ruahrc wrote:
Is it possible for one paper to have better/worse bronzing characteristics than another, even when using the same ink?
Yes, absolutely. My Epson R3000 shows gloss differential on some papers, zero (or nearly zero) on others. With the right papers there’s no need for the gloss optimizer as used by the R1900/R2000. Bronzing hasn’t been an issue at all for me, but I can see where a paper with greater gloss differential would probably have a greater tendency to exhibit bronzing.
p.1 #3 · "bronzing" dependent on paper, ink, or both?
That's normal to see that on some papers. Best thing you can do is to spray your prints with Premier Print Shield, which should both protect them and pretty much eliminate the problem.
p.1 #4 · "bronzing" dependent on paper, ink, or both?
Good to know. I didn't realize the paper could have large contributions to this effect as well. I suppose it's probably more about the actual surface texture of the paper and not the paper itself, but that's just my semi-educated guess.
p.1 #6 · "bronzing" dependent on paper, ink, or both?
Peter Figen wrote:
That's normal to see that on some papers. Best thing you can do is to spray your prints with Premier Print Shield, which should both protect them and pretty much eliminate the problem.
+1
A tip for even spraying of prints:
Keep the can an equal distance parallel to the print surface with the nozzle pointing directly at it by rotating the can with your wrist as you move it across. If you just swing your arm across the photo when spraying it will move in a arc with the spray can closer to the photo in the middle than the edges. Imagine you are painting a wall with a 4" brush and keeping it perfectly perpendicular to the wall as you move back and forth across. That will result in uneven coating.
Allow for an overspray area. When I spray prints I secure untrimmed prints to a slightly larger piece of mat board held on an easel so the over spray goes behind the print rather than building up on the edges. Start the flow of the spray before the print and extend the spray path well beyond the the print before you release the trigger or change direction and come back over the print You'll waste a bit of spray but the resulting coating will be more even.
It should go without saying spray in an area with good ventilation away from any ignition sources. An explosion will ruin your day
