Eric's Top 5 Inkjet Papers

A very common question that I am asked is “What papers do you use?” My common answer is “all of them” as I choose the right paper for the right image and factor my paper choice into my composition. If I had to narrow down my top five favorites, they would be as follows:

1. 

   1. Hahnemuhle Fine Art Baryta 325 gsm

   There is a special secret sauce in this paper that makes some of my images look absolutely three dimensional. I love the beautifully and unique slightly textured surface. The bright white base adds a bit of magic to images with bright highlights.

2. 

   2. Canson BFK Rives 310 gsm

   Definitely one of my "go-to" papers. BFK Rives never disappoints. It has all of the qualities I look for in a gallery/museum quality inkjet paper. Long provenance and history in the art world (known to many as the finest watercolor, drawing and etching paper in the world for over 500 years!) Made of 100% cotton with no optical brightening agents. The soft natural white base and slight texture make this one of the most luxurious papers on the market. If “quality” is your brand, this is the paper for you. I even print my business cards on BFK Rives.

3. 

   3. Edition Etching Rag - 310 GSM

   Another of my "go-to" papers. Like BFK Rives this paper has all of those special qualities I look for in a gallery/museum quality inkjet paper. It has a beautiful white point without the use of optical brightening agents and has a black I can only describe as “being able to dip your finger in.” Know as the finest etching paper on the market, I use Canon Edition Etching for color and black and white photographs. Some of my the images I am most proud of have been printed on this paper. As compared to other more modern 100% cotton rag papers it is also very economically priced.

4. 

   4. Innova Soft Textured Natural White 100% Cotton 315 gsm

   I recently discovered this paper and use it quite regularly now for images with rough textures. This paper also has a special something. It has a rather compressed color gamut but on the right image the dimensionality of this paper is spectacular. It is softer and warmer than most papers and has a special quality that is unique.

5. 

   5. Arista-II Baryta Photo 310 gsm

   As with all of our Arista-II private label papers, Baryta Photo 310 gsm represents the very best value in a true Baryta paper. I whole-heartily recommend it for when you want to print an image on the very same paper base used to manufacture traditional black and white photographic paper. It has a huge color gamut, bright white base and is what I consider my general purpose museum/gallery quality product. This paper very much compares to other “true baryta” papers on the market at a very economical/competitive price.