Paper comparison

Luckyjoe · Elite Member Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 368 Location: Ohio

I finally finished the last VillageWorks medium plaster house kitbash. I did 3 versions, one on Canon matte photo paper, one on 4Inkjets.com LD matte photo paper, and the last on 80lb cover stock. Here's a pic:
Canon on left, LD in middle, cover stock on right.

Even allowing for poor photography I think the pic accurately represents the difference in appearance between the different papers. Canon is clearly best at $9.99 for 50 11x8.5 inch sheets. LD paper from 4Inkjets.com at $4.99 for 100 sheets is not quite as good as the Canon, but still superior to the coverstock. Of course different printers, different settings, ymmv. But if you're looking for a pretty good, inexpensive matte photo paper, I think this LD paper from 4inkjets is pretty reasonable. If you end up getting some, please post pics of your builds. Smile

Luckyjoe

Gamesmith Denny · Posted: 04-20-2009, 04:28 PM Post subject:

What are the weights of each paper type?

Luckyjoe · Elite Member Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 368 Location: Ohio

Weights are Canon 45lb/170gsm, LD 128gsm (lb wt low 30s?). Besides wt difference in the photo paper, I think the brightness is the big difference. Canon 108, LD 98.

I've been thinking that this photo paper would be just the thing for The Ruined Undercrypt. That's on my project list, a 2.5D build of the Undercrypt with LD photo paper. Smile

Kane · Posted: 04-20-2009, 04:59 PM Post subject:

Wow. Just wow. I am going to print a Hinterlands grass tile tonight on my Canon Matte Photo and see if that fixes how muddy it looks on cardstock.

LD2062 · Posted: 04-20-2009, 06:03 PM Post subject:

Still no scratching or flaking on the LD paper? I think I'll grab a pack next time I order ink, which will be soon since I'm into my last full set of ink.

Tinybrain · Model Member Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 109

Striking comparison! Does anyone have any idea where Cougar Opaque Cover Stock fits into this continuum?

Luckyjoe · Elite Member Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 368 Location: Ohio

@Kane: You should give it a try. I couldn't believe the difference it makes in appearance.

@LD: No scratching or flaking at all.

@Tinybrain: I don't know. The cover stock I'm using is from International Paper. It's called Accent Opaque Digital smooth cover and is 80 lb/216gsm. I don't know how it compares to the Cougar, though.

Luckyjoe

A3n · Posted: 04-21-2009, 03:50 AM Post subject:

@ Luckyjoe - Do you know anybody with a colour laser printer?
I would be really interested to see the difference between the laser finish & this inkjet photo paper finish.

@ Denny - something like this would make a great addition to the getting started thread so newbies (like me) can get an idea of what to expect from the different quality of paper used.

morganm · Elite Member Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 442

From just the photo I like the middle one best. The Canon on the left is too dark and too red for me.

Luckyjoe · Elite Member Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 368 Location: Ohio

@A3n: Sorry I missed your question. I don't have access to a laser printer, but I would like to see how photo paper looks with a laser.

@Morganm: I can appreciate that. It might however be just that I can't take good pics. Smile

Luckyjoe

morganm · Elite Member Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 442

Yeah; it could be the photo as well.

Looking at your other comparison with the tents and rugs you could clearly see the difference there even between the Cannon photo paper and LD paper.

LD2062 · Posted: 06-29-2009, 06:24 PM Post subject:

I just bought some LD photopaper. It prints beautifully, but its incredibly flimsy. I've got to figure out some way to reinforce it.

Anyone know another matte photopaper thats much sturdier?

Tyler Tinsley · Model Member Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 114

the cannon paper is actually advertised for paper crafting and works very nicely with most adhesives (the front and back have different coatings) i know it works well for modeling but I'm not sure how strong it would be for some applications (like the bottom floor of a four story structure)

Bedwyr · Elite Member Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 275

Tell me if I've got the conversions right.

Average garden variety cardstock is 110lb basis weight which translates to about 8.5 mils thick per page.

Printworks available from Target as well as a few other stores sells a satin photo stock at 8.6 mils thick. Printing on best or one step better than "normal" will yield very deep colors, good adherence, and have yet to crack on me:

http://www.myprintworks.com/prod_ph_es.html

LD2062 · Posted: 07-03-2009, 05:18 PM Post subject:

I've been experimenting with the photopaper. And I found that when i mount it on light weight cardstock the result is pretty close to 110lb cardstock.

I'm not sure what the weight is though. I buy it from Big Lots for $2 and all it says is White cardstock, by wausau paper.

Still having to do an extra cycle of gluing and drying is tedious, although not enough to give up the nicer printing and go back to regular cardstock.