Author: Mr. Birkin (Westcliff on Sea)
Canos Platine fibre Rag 310: Canon Pixma Pro-10S: BenQ PD2720U calibrated Adobe RGB Display.
Came across old pack of Canson papers with samples of both Canson's Baryta Photographique and Platine Fibre Rag. The BP has been replaced with Photographique II whilst the Platine remains unaltered. I'm here to tell you the Photographique II is NOT the same paper at all and having bought a box of A4, found myself rather disappointed. It's not a bad paper but lacks the 'Blimey!' factor of the original (the photographer's version of the wow factor) and for some reason retains very slight roller marks from the printer, which the original version did not (and neither does the Platine).
However the Platine does NOT disappoint. It is beautiful. The box of A3+ sheets, confusingly are labelled 'Ultra Smooth Glossy'. No idea why, the paper fresh from the box looks completely smooth and matt/non reflective, to the extent I thought I'd received the wrong product.
However putting it thru the printer, the finish is Satin, semi-gloss or lustre depending on your vernacular. It has a subtle texture, perfect, evenly distributing light across the surface of the paper which dries to a completely flat and wonderful print. Colours are perfectly accurate, well saturated with a good contrast ratio. The paper is cotton based I think, it certainly feels to be so, with a certain heft. Apparently no optical brighteners are used, evenso the paper is a good bright neutral/slightly warm white.
I would not hesitate to recommend this paper if your prints are important to you, I would say without doubt, gallery standard. The service from Purelypaper is excellent and the price highly competitive, the best on the web actually. 5 stars across the board. Satisfied customer.
