I love MOAB Juniper, but also use Canson baryta, Red River Big Bend 310, and Hahnemuehle papers. I use Moab more frequently than the others. Bought a 100-sheet box and have never regretted it.
Been very pleased with Red River Big Bend 310. Printed a 9-image project yesterday,6 B&W 3 color. Had intended to do the color on something else but decided that consistent is better than right every time, as I was told 45 years ago. Originally came to it as an alternative to Epson Exhibition Fiber, which ti matches up against nicely.
I use Hahnemuhle Photorag Baryta as my go to B&W and Canson Baryta Prestige or Platine Fiber Rag for color. As far as mat papers I use primarily Canson Rag Photographique.
Love this discussion. Very helpful. MOAB Juniper is what I started with after my initial paper tests when I first started printing my own work; however, when it was recently on back-order for a good while I was forced to choose another comparable paper. I decided on Red River Palo Duro SoftGloss Rag, with their Big Bend 310 a close runner up. Since then I’ve stuck with Red River. But I do love the Juniper paper as well.
Excluding yr sponsorship I'm sure you would otherwise pick Hahnemühle! Order a sample pack and I'm sure you would agree the Germans have the winner :-)
I use both Moab and Hahnemuhle papers, my personal favorite baryta paper is Hahnemuhle fine art baryta satin. I prefer both the surface characteristics and the color of the paper base.
A tossup with Hahnemuhle and Moab Juniper with a slight edge to Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta probably because i got used to it before Juniper. Moab double sided for hand made books and smaller prints (8.5x11).
So the answer is more complicated for me, than just one brand. My go-to semi-gloss paper was ALWAYS Ilford Gold Fibre Silk. I loved it for both b&w AND color; I thought it was exceptional for both, and believe me, I tested a ZILLION papers against each other and still have those test sheets. But GFS was discontinued. Gold Fibre Gloss feels more "raggy" to me, more natural, but it doesn't quite hold the highlights the way GFS did. PLUS, it started to become harder and harder for stores to keep Ilford papers in stock, especially once the pandemic hit. For mat prints (which I do less often) I use Moab Entrada Rag Bright. I feels the Optical brighteners don't cut down on longevity enough to bother me, and I feel I can get brighter highlights of course, than with Rag Natural. If I want a lot of texture, it's Hahnemuhle William Turner or Museum Rag.
It's the semi-gloss side, which is most of my work, that's trickier. I use Ilford GFG some of the time, but when I can't get it, my tests showed that Canson Photographique II has ALMOST the same response as GFG for less money. The highlights are sometimes depressed from what they are with GFG but it's so slight I think it may be my imagination (or my densitometer--which can barely see it as well). But lately I started using Moab Juniper. I was turned onto it by Anchor Editions' prints of Dorothea Lange photos, some of which were done on Juniper. I haven't done enough with it to really have formed a permanent opinion, but I'm interested to keep working with it.
Sorry to take so much column-space, but I did SUCH extensive testing when Ilford discontinued GFS that I thought maybe my sharing some extra detail might be worth it to some readers.
My go-to baryta for a decade has been Canson. However, Epson joined the club about 6 years ago with its "Legacy" papers, including a baryta -- and more, such as Platine, also made by Canson. In fact, as I suspected from the nomenclature, the Legacy papers are made by Canson.
I did a basic comparison then, which has proven to be one of my most popular posts, over time.
Not sure what all the excitement is about Baryta papers? I use Moab papers [now Estrada Rag Bright 300] and Awagami from time to time. I also favor Hahnemühle and Canson, neither of which are Baryta, as far as I know. I don't want to ignore Canon which provides a reasonably priced Pro Premium Matte, a Premium Fine Art Rough and a superb Pro Platinum when glossy is called for. What is the attraction that many have for Baryta?
Recently confirmed a gallery show of my old body of concert work from the 70's and 80's. I needed to upgrade my ancient Epson R3000 and ended up with their P900. I've always used Epson paper for general work but Moab Entrada bright for my print portfolio of current work. I've also tried some Red River papers. For the show I ended up testing and loving the Juniper Baryta. I'll be printing 11X14 and 17X22 color and black and white. One paper to rule them all. Really happy with my choice. Prints looking awesome.
I checked “Other” as the equivalent of “all of the above.” Each paper has a range of qualities (maybe sometime an “idiosycracy” in the eye of the beholder/printer) and each is sometimes the right paper for a particular image. I mainly hope for more entries in the paper sweepstakes, as any paper that can make it in the marketplace probably has something especially appealing about it.
I love MOAB Juniper, but also use Canson baryta, Red River Big Bend 310, and Hahnemuehle papers. I use Moab more frequently than the others. Bought a 100-sheet box and have never regretted it.
Been very pleased with Red River Big Bend 310. Printed a 9-image project yesterday,6 B&W 3 color. Had intended to do the color on something else but decided that consistent is better than right every time, as I was told 45 years ago. Originally came to it as an alternative to Epson Exhibition Fiber, which ti matches up against nicely.
I use Hahnemuhle Photorag Baryta as my go to B&W and Canson Baryta Prestige or Platine Fiber Rag for color. As far as mat papers I use primarily Canson Rag Photographique.
Love this discussion. Very helpful. MOAB Juniper is what I started with after my initial paper tests when I first started printing my own work; however, when it was recently on back-order for a good while I was forced to choose another comparable paper. I decided on Red River Palo Duro SoftGloss Rag, with their Big Bend 310 a close runner up. Since then I’ve stuck with Red River. But I do love the Juniper paper as well.
Excluding yr sponsorship I'm sure you would otherwise pick Hahnemühle! Order a sample pack and I'm sure you would agree the Germans have the winner :-)
Les and Robert,
I came across these articles and thought you might be interested
https://photopxl.com/canson-baryta-photographique-ii/
https://photopxl.com/canson-baryta-photogrphique-ii-matt-cbp2m/
https://photopxl.com/red-river-palo-duro-baryta-fiber-300/
Keep up the good work!
Walt
I use both Moab and Hahnemuhle papers, my personal favorite baryta paper is Hahnemuhle fine art baryta satin. I prefer both the surface characteristics and the color of the paper base.
A tossup with Hahnemuhle and Moab Juniper with a slight edge to Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta probably because i got used to it before Juniper. Moab double sided for hand made books and smaller prints (8.5x11).
MOAB Juniper is superb, though insanely expensive. Red River’s baryta is OBA free, alpha cellulose, and super nice for a lot less.
So the answer is more complicated for me, than just one brand. My go-to semi-gloss paper was ALWAYS Ilford Gold Fibre Silk. I loved it for both b&w AND color; I thought it was exceptional for both, and believe me, I tested a ZILLION papers against each other and still have those test sheets. But GFS was discontinued. Gold Fibre Gloss feels more "raggy" to me, more natural, but it doesn't quite hold the highlights the way GFS did. PLUS, it started to become harder and harder for stores to keep Ilford papers in stock, especially once the pandemic hit. For mat prints (which I do less often) I use Moab Entrada Rag Bright. I feels the Optical brighteners don't cut down on longevity enough to bother me, and I feel I can get brighter highlights of course, than with Rag Natural. If I want a lot of texture, it's Hahnemuhle William Turner or Museum Rag.
It's the semi-gloss side, which is most of my work, that's trickier. I use Ilford GFG some of the time, but when I can't get it, my tests showed that Canson Photographique II has ALMOST the same response as GFG for less money. The highlights are sometimes depressed from what they are with GFG but it's so slight I think it may be my imagination (or my densitometer--which can barely see it as well). But lately I started using Moab Juniper. I was turned onto it by Anchor Editions' prints of Dorothea Lange photos, some of which were done on Juniper. I haven't done enough with it to really have formed a permanent opinion, but I'm interested to keep working with it.
Sorry to take so much column-space, but I did SUCH extensive testing when Ilford discontinued GFS that I thought maybe my sharing some extra detail might be worth it to some readers.
My go-to baryta for a decade has been Canson. However, Epson joined the club about 6 years ago with its "Legacy" papers, including a baryta -- and more, such as Platine, also made by Canson. In fact, as I suspected from the nomenclature, the Legacy papers are made by Canson.
I did a basic comparison then, which has proven to be one of my most popular posts, over time.
https://raymondparkerphoto.com/comparing-canson-infinity-and-epson-legacy-papers-a-brief-review/
Not sure what all the excitement is about Baryta papers? I use Moab papers [now Estrada Rag Bright 300] and Awagami from time to time. I also favor Hahnemühle and Canson, neither of which are Baryta, as far as I know. I don't want to ignore Canon which provides a reasonably priced Pro Premium Matte, a Premium Fine Art Rough and a superb Pro Platinum when glossy is called for. What is the attraction that many have for Baryta?
Recently confirmed a gallery show of my old body of concert work from the 70's and 80's. I needed to upgrade my ancient Epson R3000 and ended up with their P900. I've always used Epson paper for general work but Moab Entrada bright for my print portfolio of current work. I've also tried some Red River papers. For the show I ended up testing and loving the Juniper Baryta. I'll be printing 11X14 and 17X22 color and black and white. One paper to rule them all. Really happy with my choice. Prints looking awesome.
I checked “Other” as the equivalent of “all of the above.” Each paper has a range of qualities (maybe sometime an “idiosycracy” in the eye of the beholder/printer) and each is sometimes the right paper for a particular image. I mainly hope for more entries in the paper sweepstakes, as any paper that can make it in the marketplace probably has something especially appealing about it.
Yes I do use it along with Fotospeed smooth cotton 300. Another one is PermaJet FB Gold Silk 315 (baryta paper)
Fotospeed it is