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For years I have used Costco's Kirkland glossy paper as my day-to-day printing paper for Epson 3880.?
The paper is no longer available in Canada, and as nearly as I can tell it has disappeared in the US too.
1) Has the paper been rebranded (yet)?
2) What would you recommend as a more or less equivalent paper: ?range, surface, archival quality, availability, cost...
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Thanks!
Myron
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Costco closed their photo printing business. I don't live in US or Canada, but Mitsubishi could be a good guess for many private label glossy inkjet papers.
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Kang-Wei Hsu
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Effect of Fixatives on Inkjet Papers Preservation and Imaging Quality
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Try Red River paper, Palo Duro Satin -? or order a sample pack and see what you like.
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Berel Lutsky
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I don’t think you will find any glossy papers as good as the Kirkland glossy at the Costco PRICE. That paper was an exceptionally good value. ?I used it for many years and still have a couple boxes of it. The closest one from Red River Paper is their Ultra Pro Glossy 2.0. It is a very similar paper, but the price is significantly higher than the Kirkland brand. ?100 sheets 8.5x11 in of the RRP UPG 2.0 paper sells for $50.45 USD.
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Gary
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I concur - try Red River papers.? I've had excellent results with them.
I might add that I was a fan of 100% carbon pigments on Arches (uncoated) watercolor paper.? I suspect nothing will last longer.
But my gallery customers couldn't care less.? They buy the image, not the technology and multi-century longevity.? Good, modern pigments on a satin paper will last long enough.? (Do not use dyes!? They definitely fade.)
So, now, a 44" roll of Red River satin paper stays in my large printer.? I spray the?images with 4 coats of Print Shield (acrylic spray), dry mount them on acid-free foam core, frame them with frames I cut from 9' lengths, and display them without glazing.? I've had no reports of any damage or other negative issues.
Paul
Try Red River paper, Palo Duro Satin -? or order a sample pack and see what you like.
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Berel Lutsky
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Can you be a bit more specific to size/needs?? The Kirkland was not archival, it was a RC paper, and was made by Mitsubishi.? If you're looking for inexpensive glossy paper in 8 1/2 x 11 then the plain Canon glossy at 100 sheets for $18 is a clear winner.? It's slightly thinner than the Costco, but it can't be beat for the price.? If you need larger sizes or want alternatives such lustre, look at It Supplies.? They carry a lot of varieties of papers to choose from and the PremierArt is another lower cost alternative.
On Monday, October 28, 2024 at 04:38:03 AM EDT, Kang-Wei Hsu <beblue.shi@...> wrote:
Costco closed their photo printing business. I don't live in US or Canada, but Mitsubishi could be a good guess for many private label glossy inkjet papers.
?
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Kang-Wei Hsu
download FREE preview：
Effect of Fixatives on Inkjet Papers Preservation and Imaging Quality
|
Ink Press glossy is inexpensive and has performed well for me.
Try Red River paper, Palo Duro Satin -? or order a sample pack and see what you like.
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Berel Lutsky
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Can you be a bit more specific to size/needs??
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.
The Kirkland was not archival, it was a RC paper, and was made by Mitsubishi.?
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!!
Early Kirkland paper was made in Switzerland, and more recently in Mexico. Were/are those Mitsubishi plants?
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.
If you're looking for inexpensive glossy paper in 8 1/2 x 11 then the plain Canon glossy at 100 sheets for $18 is a clear winner.
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. ?
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”.?
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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”
Again, it is likely to have OBA's and wouldn't be considered archival.
I have attached some sample images for your perusal.? Image 1 includes a base comparison of three papers, L>R Costco CH, Canon Glossy, and a FA matte.? Image 2 demonstrates the OBA's between Costco CH & Canon Glossy.? Image 3 demonstrates OBA's in Canon glossy versus no OBA's in the FA paper.? Image 4 is just a comparison between the Costco CH & USA.? As a final note, the Costco glossy has minimal stippling whereas the Canon glossy demonstrates more surface irregularities.
On Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 11:37:48 AM EDT, Myron Gochnauer <goch@...> wrote:
Can you be a bit more specific to size/needs??
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.
The Kirkland was not archival, it was a RC paper, and was made by Mitsubishi.?
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!!
Early Kirkland paper was made in Switzerland, and more recently in Mexico. Were/are those Mitsubishi plants?
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.
If you're looking for inexpensive glossy paper in 8 1/2 x 11 then the plain Canon glossy at 100 sheets for $18 is a clear winner.
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. ?
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”.?
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Kirkland glossy RC paper is not a premium archival material. And, there are MANY similar papers on the market, Kirkland is nothing special... Costco didn't made them, they buy from other real manufactories. Sorry for break your Kirkland myth, but you need to tell others your spec requirement not how you love Kirkland papers.
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Kang-Wei Hsu
download FREE preview：
Effect of Fixatives on Inkjet Papers Preservation and Imaging Quality
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Sorry for the delayed response. One of my dogs is seriously ill and has been in the veterinary hospital for several days, so the paper I print on seems pretty trivial.?
Kirkland glossy RC paper is not a premium archival material. And, there are MANY similar papers on the market, Kirkland is nothing special...
I had no illusion/myth that Kirkland paper is “premium archival material”.?
*Most*?printing papers are “nothing special”. ?But that doesn’t mean that there are no differences between them and that differences should be ignored.?
...you need to tell others your spec requirement not how you love Kirkland papers.
I happen to *like* the qualities of the Kirkland papers I have used (8.5x11, 11x14 and 13x19, Swiss, Mexican and maybe USA). I have created my own profiles for them, colour and more than one formulation of B&W. I like the feel and flatness of them. The
whiteness of the print surface is acceptable for my audience and viewing conditions. While the glossy surface would not be my first choice for many prints, I find it acceptable.
I hoped someone would say something like: “Epson XXX is very similar although it tends to curl more.” Or: Lasal Glossy XX is even flatter/stiffer than Kirkland, and the tonal range is the same, but it’s no longer available.” ?Or similar kinds of observations
from personal experience.
I could measure the thickness with a micrometer, the colour characteristics of the white surface with my Color Munki, and maximum black for the ink I use, but I didn’t think that most people would have that kind of detail at hand for comparison.
15+ years ago there seemed to be many people testing and posting information about all the new papers coming out, but that seems to have dried up. Am I missing something out there in the internet jungle?
Myron
Sitting Quietly With Dogs
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Sorry to hear that one of your animals is sick, they are really members of the family.? I hope that it resolves itself soon.
"15+ years ago there seemed to be many people testing and posting information about all the new papers coming out, but that seems to have dried up. Am I missing something out there in the internet jungle?"
While the printer market continues to expand by about 5% a year largely fueled by global growth (see:?), the level of interest on forums and websites seems to have tailed off and regressed.? Much of the emerging information comes from the major paper manufacturers and even they don't do a spectacular job at promotion.? LuLa and? ?are two legacy sites which still have some information, otherwise you'll have to scour the web with specific questions.? If you really want a Kirkland equivalent, then maybe go to the original source, Ilford, though it will cost you.? Their Gallerie Photo Gloss has the same specs -??as the Kirkland.? Good luck sourcing it, the only place I've seen is B&H for 4x6, 5x7??or fleabay where people are selling remaining stock.
On Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 03:44:39 PM EST, Myron Gochnauer <goch@...> wrote:
Sorry for the delayed response. One of my dogs is seriously ill and has been in the veterinary hospital for several days, so the paper I print on seems pretty trivial.?
Kirkland glossy RC paper is not a premium archival material. And, there are MANY similar papers on the market, Kirkland is nothing special...
I had no illusion/myth that Kirkland paper is “premium archival material”.?
*Most*?printing papers are “nothing special”. ?But that doesn’t mean that there are no differences between them and that differences should be ignored.?
...you need to tell others your spec requirement not how you love Kirkland papers.
I happen to *like* the qualities of the Kirkland papers I have used (8.5x11, 11x14 and 13x19, Swiss, Mexican and maybe USA). I have created my own profiles for them, colour and more than one formulation of B&W. I like the feel and flatness of them. The
whiteness of the print surface is acceptable for my audience and viewing conditions. While the glossy surface would not be my first choice for many prints, I find it acceptable.
I hoped someone would say something like: “Epson XXX is very similar although it tends to curl more.” Or: Lasal Glossy XX is even flatter/stiffer than Kirkland, and the tonal range is the same, but it’s no longer available.” ?Or similar kinds of observations
from personal experience.
I could measure the thickness with a micrometer, the colour characteristics of the white surface with my Color Munki, and maximum black for the ink I use, but I didn’t think that most people would have that kind of detail at hand for comparison.
15+ years ago there seemed to be many people testing and posting information about all the new papers coming out, but that seems to have dried up. Am I missing something out there in the internet jungle?
Myron
Sitting Quietly With Dogs
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But you never post any Kirkland paper spec and why you like the paper. How should we know which paper might suit for you? I did posted and share something (just take a look at below links), and I don't play Ouija board.
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Kang-Wei Hsu
download FREE preview：
Effect of Fixatives on Inkjet Papers Preservation and Imaging Quality
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I give up. Let’s just stop. Kang-Wei Hsu has a style of writing that I find needlessly abrasive.?
Perhaps I’m just in the wrong user group, although I have used QTR for years, and printed B&W on silver papers since the early 70’s.
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On Nov 5, 2024, at 21:55, Kang-Wei Hsu via groups.io <beblue.shi@...> wrote:
?External message: Use caution.
But you never post any Kirkland paper spec and why you like the paper. How should we know which paper might suit for you? I did posted and share something (just take a look at below links), and I don't play Ouija board.
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Kang-Wei Hsu
download FREE preview：
Effect of Fixatives on Inkjet Papers Preservation and Imaging Quality
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Kang-Wei Hsu
