I use this sort of paper for everything from “refrigerator prints” (small prints held by a magnet on a refrigerator or metal door) to laminated prints for kids’ rooms to matted and framed prints of deceased relatives and beloved pets.
OK, but that really didn't answer the question.? Did you want 8 1/2 x 11, larger, smaller sizes?
Kirkland was alleged to be non-acidic, and my experience over perhaps a dozen years or so is that the base color is quite stable (i.e. doesn’t yellow). ?I doubt than anyone will care about my images in 100+ years… but you never know!!
"Acid" is but one part of the equation and every RC paper I know of has some degree of "acid" in it.? Another factor which is more important to yellowing are added OBA's.? Again, every RC paper that I've ever tested has OBA's in it.? The Costco CH paper - which was most likely made by Ilford - was not as white as some.? I would describe the "whiteness" as a bit more "gray clay" colored.? For comparison, I've included a sample of it next to the inexpensive Canon glossy and a fine art (oba free) cotton matte.? The Costco CH does have a lot of OBA's, though it appears to be qualitatively less than the Canon Glossy.
Early Kirkland paper was made in Switzerland, and more recently in Mexico. Were/are those Mitsubishi plants?
The CH paper (which was my favorite) was most likely made by Ilford.? Then it was made in the USA for a while (by ?), and then the Mexico version was most probably Mitsubishi.
Whatever the manufacturing plant, I believe that the formulas and specifications would have sufficient value and appeal that *someone* would acquire the rights and resume production under some label or other. ? Silver based darkroom papers could certainly be reproduced, redesigned or, I presume, even made to order.
Sure, you can reach out to Ilford, Costco, etc. and see if they are up to it?? I haven't tested any of Ilford's glossy papers in comparison as they are just more expensive and I don't print on glossy other than for calibration or test purposes.? In that case, I use the least expensive possible which is the Canon.
I haven’t tried any of Canon’s papers. $18 per 100 seems so inexpensive as to be… well… *cheap*. ?I wouldn’t trust it for anything except short-time throw-away prints.??
OK, so you're looking for a higher quality glossy paper?? There are dozens depending on your price range and purposes.? Is an RC paper a must or do you want something more archival (cotton based, OBA free, gloss)?
Epson Premium Glossy was my first thought since it is widely available, and seemed to have decent longevity with Epson K3 inks. Or their “Ultra Premium Luster”
