These were all used without extra sizing.
Best results were from two 100% cotton Fabriano papers, one is certainly
Artistico 'not' the other I think is the HP version of this (long time
since I bought it, but the w/mark on the part sheet I have says
'M.Fabriano 100/100 cotton' and it is HP. The 'not' print has a smoother
look, but the HP has slightly bolder colours and matches the Epson's
colours slightly better - the HP is slightly yellow. Both almost as good
as the Rives with 2 coats of gelatin.
The quality of the above two was similar to using 'coated' paper in the
printer
Fabriano 5 - slightly redder than the Artistico, and slightly weaker
colours. Definitely less sharp. Waterford HP gave very similar results -
perhaps slightly sharper and smoother but with a mottled effect in some
areas which detracts. Some unbranded 'student' cartridge paper I have a
good supply of gave similar results
Worst of those I tried was Bockingford - almost as bad as unsized Reeves
BFK. I started experiments with this as someone recommended it to me for
ink jet printing! Atlantis Silversafe gave results in the same league.
Unless someone else suggests anything more promising I think my next tests
(but don't hold your breath) will be with sizing Artistico Not, though for
some purposes the prints on unsized paper would be ok. The prints I've
made don't, by the way, have a pastel look, but had I started with an
original with that look I think they would have done so.
Peter Marshall
On Fixing Shadows and elsewhere:
http://faraday.clas.virginia.edu/~ds8s/
Family Pictures, German Indications, London demonstrations &
The Buildings of London etc: http://www.spelthorne.ac.uk/pm/