Paper for making book

[Sneakyracer]

Hi, I want to know about high quality photo papers (not extremely thick) that can be printed on both sides. I want to make a book w/ photos and some text. Ill be using an epson 1280.

[cthornhill]

I have been working on book production for a little while now, and have some results. A lot depends on binding choices, and how long you want the book to last.

I used a double sided semi-gloss from InkJetArt.com for my recent line of books. I choose this paper since I wanted a glossy or semi-glossy feel, and needed it to last over 25 years when printed with Epson Ultra-Chrome pigment inks. I suspect you will find this paper too heavy, and I have gone to having a hinge put in my pages to accomodate easier page turns when case bound. Pictorico makes a similar double sided semi-glossy paper that also accepts 2200 inks, and it is priced about the same.

There are several thinner papers, all of which did not print well for me on the 2000 or 10000 with Ultra-Chrome. they might do OK on a dye printer like the 1280, but I can not estimate lifespan of the paper and ink combo using dye. I suspect you can get a 5 - 10 year lifespan if you choose carefully, and you may do much better.

InkJetArt sells some of the Mitsu papers, and Dotworks has a line you may want to try too.

RedRiver has some glossy double sided stock, and on a 1280 it should work. Again, I can't say about lifespan.

If you want matt finish the field is wide open. There are at least a dozen matt finish papers from these and other vendors you can try, including Epson's heavier papers. Matt printing double sided is no problem since there are so many choices and all should print OK on a dye printer. How long it last is another issue.

The good news is that when closed the book has gas diffusion issues only via the edges.

You have a lot of choices to make in book production. If you want to know what I have been doing, either email me or reply here.

Bottom line for paper - with dye ink on the 1280 you can print on almost any surface, but need to know that water resistance is low and lifespan is hard to judge on non-framed dye prints. Of course you will also want to check out the Wilhelm's reports where available.

You can coat or spray your prints, if you can stand the mess. I choose not to do so, since I used pigment ultra-chrome, but most people I know working with the 1280 do coat a print for extended lifespan.

You can also laminate your pages to a carrier sheet, but then they will not be thin.

Of course if you can stand single sided pager, Epson colorlife paper will give you a long lasting print on a fairly thin page.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you need or want more data or links.

Cecil

[Sneakyracer]

Thanks for the reply. Thats what I was looking for :) :)
some good info and links to places that had what i need.

I love how colorlife paper prints on my 1280. I wish there was a 2 sided version.

[husawis]

checkout moab paper - everything you want for this type of application - including two-sided paper - see also a recent review in luminous landscape - wanashee - husawis

[cthornhill]

husawis is right - you should also look at Moab Paper - www.moabpaper.com. I know several people who are very happy with their single sided papers, and for double sided they offer both a matt and a gloss (Lasal™ Photo papers).

I have not gotten a sample yet but I do intend to try it. Their Semi-Gloss is listed as a 285g paper, so it is going to be heavy. What I found in using the InkJetArt duo (also a heavy -285gsm- microporous paper) is that we needed a crease added to the bound edge of the paper to get good 'lay-flat' results. We choose to create the 'hinge' using a crease maker that does not cut the paper (it uses pressure on a die rig). You might also consider a Kingston hing (cloth binding technique).

There is the real possibility these are the same papers. I just don't know yet. I don't think it is a bad thing either way, since more suppiers are better in a market. I hope they are different since that means there are likley multiple mills making this sort of product, and we need more options to ensure supply.

PS - First time around I missed the fact that the Entrada is also double sided. This is a cotton paper (matt surface) and at 190g may be a page weight you like better. I choose a non-matt paper due to wear considerations, but matt or coated matt may be more to your liking)


Good Luck,

Cecil.