articles/Paper/canson-infinity-the-range-page3
by Mike McNamee Published 10/04/2015
In colour testing both performed well (and in line with previous findings). The gamut volume of Platine Fibre Rag has only been bettered on two occasions (Tecco Lustre PL and Harman Crystal Jet). The audit stats are among the best we have gathered and the average for the Macbeth Colour checker patch set is the lowest of all at 1.01 ΔEoo. The effect of the high gamut volume is seen in the HiGAM data where the saturation error of both media are less than a half of a percentage point. The residual errors of the two sets are so low that further analysis is not realistic; the method of calculation of the errors has more influence than other factors, for example using ΔEoo throws a bunch of pastels as the high errors but using ΔE Lab changes this to a mix of deep colours (although it is noted that ΔEoo is the better measure, it's just not the industry contract proofing standard!). Suffice to say that these are superb audit results, unlikely to be bettered by any other media unless it is a close relative in terms of base and coating.
In summary, if I were printing for a Fellowship panel or for the making of high-value photographic prints for sale, then I would go to Platine Fibre Rag unless the very slightly cooler look of Baryta Photographique is required. Cost should not come into the equation for this type of application as it is but a small fraction of the overall outlay or value. Both materials are quite stiff and would mount well behind a matte. And talking of mattes, use a cream or certainly an un-brightened card with these papers for a true 'salon' effect.
The RC Quartet
This group are an attractive set of lower-cost resin-coated papers with four distinct surface finishes. They range from the high gloss through to the subtle satin and lustre. The high gloss is not ultrahigh, in other words it is not as glossy as a couple of other media which are very much akin to the old Cibachrome finish. It is not possible to adequately describe the finishes or their differences, so you would have to obtain a swatch book or discovery pack to see and feel them. Like all gloss surfaces these need to be handled with care to prevent scratches and scuffing, the lustre and satin are much sturdier.
All four are the Brightest and most Fluorescent of the Canson range, the High Gloss is slightly less so than the others; you can tell the difference in side-byside comparisons in normal daylight. All four media audited well with average error values around the 3 ΔEoo mark - in other words up with the best in class for these materials. The Dmax value lay between 2.3 and 2.46 which is quite high.
Metamerism was low (see table) - less than 2ΔEoo in all instances for colour profiled audits and (as is normal) rising a little when using the ABW driver.
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