The Most Promising Papers and Printers

PAPER

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Moab Juniper Baryta Rag 305 

Moab’s latest fine art media, the doubleweight (305gsm) Juniper Baryta Rag, is a 100 percent cotton, true baryta fiber paper. The slight 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. But don’t just ?take my word for it; head over to the Moab site to request a free sample. 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.

Prices: from $19 to $143

llford Galerie Prestige Gold Fibre Gloss 

Ilford’s back in town and announced a handful of new papers earlier this year. 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 24-, 44- and 50-inch widths.

PRICE: FROM $35 

Hahnemühle FineArt Baryta Satin 

With its satin finish, this acid-free, 100 percent alpha-cellulose inkjet paper (announced at Photokina last year but not shipped until now) 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, the quality of Hahnemühle’s FineArt Baryta Satin’s 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 $37

Innova FibaPrint Baryta 310gsm

Even photographers who have never processed prints in a darkroom will appreciate the traditional silver halide look and feel of FibaPrint Baryta. With a natural white color, this acid- and lignin-free paper features a true barium sulphate layer, a microporous silk coating and an ultra smooth finish. Compatible with pigment and dye ink, FibaPrint Baryta dries instantly. Sheet sizes range from A4 through 17 x 22 inches, with 15-meter long rolls available in 50-, 44-, 36-, 24- and 17-inch widths.

PRICES: FROM $28

PRINTERS

EDITOR’S CHOICE: Epson SureColor P6000 and P8000  

Replacing the Stylus Pro 7890 and 9890, respectively, the new SureColor 24-inch P6000 (above) and 44-inch P8000 printers are all about improved image quality and increased longevity. Both the P6000 and P8000 utilize the new Epson UltraChrome HD 8-color pigment inks. Look for superior black density, better gloss uniformity and up to twice the print permanence of the previous inkset. The printers also feature a more powerful controller board and the ability to schedule automatic cleaning cycles when the printer is not in use. Optional additions include an internal 320GB print server and an enhanced SpectroProofer spectrophotometer for automatic color calibration. Versatile media support ranges from 24-inch and 44-inch roll media and an automatic rotary cutter to border free printing. Both printers are slated to ship later this month.

Price: $2,995 (P6000), $4,995 (P8000)

Canon PIXMA MG7720  

Every photographer that runs a business needs more than a high- end photo printer. Enter the latest all-in-one printer from Canon, the wireless PIXMA MG7720. With print, scan and copy functionality, this printer is a good office partner when you’re working with contracts, model releases, invoices and other documents. Of course, the MG7220 prints photos, and features automatic two-sided printing and a convenient 3.5-inch touchscreen for quick and easy operation. Multiple wireless printing options such as AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, NFC and more help round out this affordable all-in-one’s long list of attributes

PRICE: $175

Epson SureColor P7000 and P9000  

Like their new SureColor P6000 and P8000 siblings, the P7000 and P9000 (above) are designed for print permanence and image quality but use a 10-color HDX inkset. Available in 24-inch and 44-inch models, the printers are slated to ship later this month.

PRICE: $3,350 (P7000), $4995 (P9000) 

Related: The Absolute Newest Photo Products To Hit the Market Right Now