Product Roundup: Prime Paper and Printers

PAPERS

Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta Satin

With its satin finish, this acid-free, 100-percent alpha-cellulose inkjet paper promises beautifully saturated colors as well as the deep blacks and dynamic range that every photographer wants for black-and-white prints. In addition to its white satin gloss finish, Hahnemühle’s FineArt Baryta Satin’s quality is enhanced by its 300gsm weight. Media sizes range from 8.5 x 11- through 17 x 22-inch sheets, as well as 39-foot rolls in 17-, 24-, 36-, 44- and 60-inch widths. 
Prices: from $22 (MSRP)

Innova FibaPrint Warm Cotton Gloss

This heavyweight, 335gsm, 100 percent cotton fine-art paper uses Innova’s Crystal Layer technology to create a barrier between the paper’s fiber base and its microporous coating for sharper details as well as broad dynamic and tonal range. Pigment and dye ink-compatible, Innova’s FibaPrint Warm Cotton Gloss has a smooth, natural white surface that dries instantly. Cut sheet sizes range from 8.5 x 11 to 17 x 22 inches with 50-foot rolls available in 17-, 24-, 36-, 44 -and 60-inch widths.
Prices: from $49 (MSRP)/$37 (street)

Canson Infinity Photo Lustre Premium RC

Compatible with both dye and pigment inks, Canson’s acid-free Photo Lustre Premium RC paper starts with an alpha-cellulose base that’s finished with a soft-luster resin coating. Noted for its bright whites and instant-dry surface, this heavyweight, 310gsm RC paper is also known for its high opacity. Standard cut sheet sizes range from 8.5 x 11 through 17 x 22 inches; 82-foot rolls are available in 17-, 24-, 44- and 60-inch widths.
Prices: from $26 (MSRP)/$20 (street)

Moab Juniper Baryta Rag 305

Moab’s latest fine-art media, the double-weight (305gsm) Juniper Baryta Rag is a 100 percent cotton, true baryta fiber paper. The slightly glossy surface helps give whites a natural look with a little extra sheen while also rendering fine details in shadows. In preliminary testing, this paper delivers great results in both color and black and white, although I was particularly taken by its exceptional monochrome capabilities. Cut sheet sizes start at 5 x 7 and max out at 17 x 22 inches; 50-foot rolls are available in 17-, 24- and 44-inch widths. Contact Moab for free samples.
Prices: from $19 (MSRP)/$17 (street)

Epson Metallic Photo Paper
Epson’s Metallic Luster has just enough sheen to create beautiful prints without going over the line into an obvious metallic surface. A 257gsm resin-coated base and thickness of 10.5 mil give prints a substantial feel. I tested it on the Epson SureColor P600 and loved the smooth, rich results it delivered for color and monochrome prints. If you want a stronger metallic look, check out Metallic Photo Paper Glossy. Both versions are available in 8.5 x 11-, 13 x 19- and 17 x 22-inch cut sheets and 100-foot rolls in 16-, 24-, 36- and 44-inch widths. Sample prints can be ordered on the Epson site.
Prices: from $24 (MSRP)/$19 (street)

Ilford Galerie Prestige Gold Fibre Gloss

Ilford announced a handful of new papers earlier this year, which should be available in the U.S. by the time you read this roundup. The 310gsm Gold Fibre Gloss is one of the more intriguing of the five new media, particularly if you’re a fan (as I am) of Ilford’s Gold Fibre Silk. This latest addition is fiber-based with no optical brighteners, and features a subtle gloss. Best suited for pigment printers, look for a wide color gamut, smooth transitions and a broad dynamic range for monochrome prints. Available in standard sheet sizes (8.5 x 11, 13 x 19 and 17 x 22 inches) as well as 39-foot rolls in 17-, 24-, 44- and 50-inch widths.
Prices: from $35 (street)

PRINTERS

Mitsubishi CP-W5000DW Duplex Dye-Sub Photo Printer

This high-capacity, duplex dye-sub photo printer offers the versatility of 13 different print sizes, from snapshot-sized 4 x 6-inch prints all the way up to 8 x 12-inch output for photo books and greeting cards, as well as a host of other creative products. The CP-W5000DW’s other options include dual-sided and full bleed in portrait, landscape or square formats. The printer is equipped with automatic horizontal and vertical paper cutters and can print up to 250 8 x 12-inch prints from a single roll. This Windows-only printer is hefty at just under 64 pounds, but when you’re in production mode, the benefits of the CP-W5000DW more than compensate for its weight.
Price: $6,295 (MSRP)

Epson SureColor P600/P800

The name may have changed from Stylus Pro to SureColor, but the new SureColor 13-inch P600 and 17-inch P800 inkjet printers deliver the high-quality output we’ve come to expect from Epson. You can read a full review of the P600, but highlights of both printers include Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, as well as new UltraChrome HD inks that include auto-switching photo black and and matte black, along with light black and light light black inks. Panorama lovers will be thrilled with both printers’ ability to output images up to 129 inches long. The P600 includes a roll feed, an optional accessory for the P800, and both models have small footprints. The P600 measures 24.2 x 14.5 x 9 inches (closed), with the P800 only a shade larger at an impressively compact 26.9 x 14.8 x 9.8 inches. 
Prices: $800 (P600) | $1,295 (P800)

Canon PIXMA Pro 10

Positioned between Canon’s PIXMA Pro-1 and its more affordable Pro-100, the award-winning Pro-10 is a 13-inch desktop printer that delivers archival color and black-and-white prints. Its ten-color LUCIA inkset includes three black inks for monochrome prints and a Chroma Optimizer to help reduce metamarism and bronzing. Equipped with two feed options, including manual for thicker media, the Pro-10 also offers CD/DVD printing and Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB 2.0 connectivity. The solidly built machine weighs 43.9 pounds and has a footprint of 27.2 x 15.2 x 8.5 inches.
Price: $700

DNP DS620A Dye-Sub Photo Printer

Designed for the event photographer, the new DNP DS620A sits at the head of the company’s dye-sub line. It can output glossy or matte prints in a range of sizes including 2 x 6-inch photo booth strips and enlargements up to 6 x 8 inches. Square formats are available as well. Better yet, the Windows-compatible DS620A is fast, with an estimated print speed of less than 9 seconds for 4 x 6 media and less than 17 seconds for 6 x 8 prints. At 10.8 x 14.4 x 6.7 inches, the new model is about 14 percent smaller than its predecessor, and even more portable.
Price: $1,050

Fujifilm Frontier-S DX100

Event photographers are under pressure to get prints in the hands of customers as quickly as possible and Fujifilm’s Frontier-S DX100 inkjet printer meets the challenge. Output speeds clock in at up to 360 4 x 6-inch prints or 120 8 x 10-inch prints per hour. Roll paper is available in 213-foot rolls in four widths: 4, 5, 6 or 8 inches, providing a wide range of options for any event. Utilizing large, 200ml cartridges per color, the DX100’s inkset consists of yellow, magenta, cyan, black, pink and sky-blue dye-based inks. Although hefty at 51 pounds, the printer—which measures 18.11 x 16.93 x 13.94 inches—can be easily transported and set up for photo booth use with Fuji’s specially designed event cases, which are equipped with locking caster wheels, space for a monitor and a pull-out drawer for access to the printer.
Prices: $2,795 (printer) | $2,295 (single case) | $2,495 (dual case)

Also On Our Radar

HiTi P520L

This dye-sub printer can output a trio of media sizes: 4 x 6-, 5 x 7- or 6 x 8-inch prints, along with two-up 2 x 6-inch prints. Photographers have the option of either a matte or glossy finish with a maximum resolution of 300 x 300 dpi. The printer offers USB 2.0 connectivity but can be upgraded for wireless printing for a direct-to-printer workflow. It may weigh close to 40 pounds, but the HiTi P520L offers a footprint of 12.9 x 11.8 x 14.1 inches and can output a 4 x 6-inch print in about 12.8 seconds.
Price: $800

Sinfonia Colorstream CS2

At 22 pounds and a footprint of 10.7 x 6.6 x 13.8 inches, this dye-sub printer is not only small but fast, too, outputting a 300 dpi 4 x 6-inch print in about 11 seconds. The CS2 also offers 3.5 x 5-, 5 x 7- and 6 x 8-inch options; two-up 2 x 6-inch strips can be output as well. The printer is equipped with USB 2.0 connectivity and a 32MB memory buffer.  
Price: $849