[I tried printing] The charm of EPSON MC art paper
MC art paper sold by EPSON is a fine art paper that is popular for its calm texture .
It is easy to handle even among matte papers, and is highly supported by people who are active in the photography and art fields.
"PHOTOPRI" offers the following six types of matte paper.
- [PICTRAN] Bureau paper
- [EPSON] PX Premium Mat
- [EPSON] MC art paper
- [EPSON] Velvet Fine Art Paper
- [Hahnemuhle] Photo Rag
- [Hahnemuhle] Torchon
In addition to MC art paper, a photo paper called ``PX Premium Matte'' sold by the same manufacturer is one that is particularly popular among customers.
MC art paper and PX premium mat.
What are the differences between the two papers chosen by many professionals?
In this article, we will focus on MC art paper , so
“What are the characteristics of art paper?”
“How is it different from premium mats?”
“What kind of photos and illustrations are suitable for?”
I am writing this for those who have questions or concerns.
In addition, the MC art paper that we will introduce this time is a paper that does not have many details about its characteristics and reviews even if you search on the internet or SNS, so if you want to use it but are not sure yet, please refer to this paper. I hope you find the article helpful.
<Handling paper>
Choosing MC art paper
(This is what it looks like when printed on art paper. You can create a calm and tasteful photo.)
About paper rigidity
The first thing you notice when you touch art paper is its thickness .
Art paper is 0.29mm , so it is one of the thickest photo papers. (Premium mat is 0.25mm )
This thickness makes it difficult to bend during printing and easy to handle, even when printing at a large size such as B0 .
It's not very thick, so even though it won't break easily, you still need to handle it with care. (Of course, any paper will fold when it folds, so it will probably make you feel a bit more comfortable when setting it on the backing or frame.)
However, the thickness also affects the stiffness of the paper itself, and being able to pick it up without any resistance is one of its major advantages .
Paper itself is not water resistant, so in humid environments the surface of the printed material may become rough (paper deformation) , the color may change , and other problems may occur.
Also, as with all matte paper, please note that it is susceptible to scratches, so if you rub it with your fingers or scratch it, it will be noticeable.
About paper texture
The surface of the art paper is textured matte (the surface of the paper is slightly rough).
(It's hard to see, but the surface is uneven. The edges have a rough texture.)
As a side note, there is a glossy paper called ``Professional Photo Paper Thick Silk'' also sold by EPSON.
The surface of Profoto thick silk has a fine grain surface, but the surface of art paper feels a little more rough and uneven.
Therefore, it is not a ``Profoto thick matte paper version''.
*By the way, premium mat is paper developed for indoor exhibitions. Art paper can be used outdoors, but given the deformation of the paper, I don't think it's suitable for Japan's humid climate.
What kind of photos/illustrations are suitable?
For printing illustrations and graphic art!
Art paper is positioned as "Fine Art Paper" on EPSON's website.
Fine art paper is a type of paper whose ``quality as paper'' has dramatically improved due to improvements in inkjet printing technology.
Its major feature is that it has both "preservability" and "texture."
In the case of art paper, the above-mentioned ``textured matte'' feature makes it a big difference from other papers.
Another popular type of matte paper is premium matte paper, which has no uneven surfaces, giving it a smooth finish. (Premium mats are simple and poetic.)
Regarding this art paper, many of the works of our customers are often ``illustrations'' or ``graphic art.''
When printing illustrations and graphic art, there are many writers who want to preserve the quality of their handwriting. I think that the quality of handwriting is that the finish is simple or grand , and the attention to detail that is unique to handwriting .
If you have ever printed with art paper, you probably already know that art paper is compatible with both illustration and graphic art, and is a paper that will definitely be used again and again. It can also be recommended as “PHOTOPRI”!
Recommended for photos with little color information
Art paper can be used not only for illustrations and graphic art, but also for photography.
However, based on my experience so far, I feel that I can recommend the photos you print as long as they meet certain conditions .
The condition is ``photos with little color information.''
When printing on matte paper, it can be said that the impression is ``calm'', for better or worse.
For example, photos with a lot of color information (such as colorful photos) may have poor color reproduction, resulting in a dull impression. (Of course, it depends on the viewer.)
If you are looking for a crisp or sharp impression, art paper will be too mellow, so it would be better to have more options, such as using glossy paper.
The prints in the photo above use a variety of colors. As expected, the overall impression is calm.
For those who can tolerate this level of finish, this is actually better! Even if you say so, I think it's best to print a sample first before ordering just to be sure !
bonus
In general, geometric visual art culture has been expressed by many artists overseas for a long time, but in Japan, ``visual art'' itself is not as active as it is in Europe.
All of us at PHOTOPRI are very happy to see the number of orders for graphic art increasing, albeit gradually!
Good luck young people! lol
Would you like to try printing on MC art paper?
Just like you take a test drive when you buy a car, we want you to use the trial print service and experience the paper for yourself before printing.
You can't really understand the texture, texture, color reproduction, etc. of a wide variety of papers, such as glossy paper, matte paper, fine art paper, and Japanese paper, until you actually hold the printed material in your hands.
Even if you try to choose the best one from a large number of papers, it may be difficult. There are many people who don't know which one to choose.
You can print a trial print using your own photo data .
We have a trial set that suits your preferences, so please take advantage of it!
