I received my first order yesterday from Red River. The website and order process was easy. The information for each kind of paper really helped choosing. Then the packaging, not only was shipping box packaged great. But the presentation once opened was nice too. I was pleasantly surprised to see the big nice white clean box inside. Simple elegance. Then the information sheets provided. Another positive. As someone new to printing with fancy paper, I cannot thank you enough for the information included. Clear and easy to follow. Everything needed was there or guided me where to find more information.
Next was learning you not only have ICC profiles but also the specific Canon 1100 printer profiles! Other paper brands direct me to use Canon profiles. Having Red River specific printer profiles is amazing. This is when I realized you weren't like everyone else and I was going to have a very good experience printing. Thank you! Then. I see how you outlined step by step the settings for my printer with screenshots and arrows and easy to follow information. I was blown away.
Finally. I hit print. And what came out was chef kiss. I could not be happier with the final product. I was so happy, I tagged your Instagram showing the printer output the photo.
Really truly amazing work by everyone. I will be ordering again. Thank you!
Papers with the Archival designtation can take many forms. They can be glossy, matte, canvas, or an artistic product. These papers are acid free, lignin free and can be made of virgin tree fiber (alpha cellulose) or 25-100% cotton rag. They are likely to have optical or fluorescent brightening agents (OBAs) - chemicals that make the paper appear brighter white. Presence of OBAs does not indicate your image will fade faster. It does predict a slow change in the white point of your paper, especially if it is displayed without UV filter glass or acrylic.
Archival Grade Summary
Numerous papers - made from tree or cotton content
Acid and lignin free base stock
Inkjet coating layer acid free
Can have OBAs in the base or the coating
Museum Grade Paper
Papers with the museum designation make curators happy. They are made from 100% cotton rag content and have no optical brightener content. (OBA) The base stock is acid and lignin free. The coating is acid free. This type of offers the most archival option in terms of media stability over time.
Museum Grade Summary
100% cotton rag content
Acid and lignin free base stock
Inkjet coating layer acid free
No OBA content
Photographic Grade Paper
Photo Grade products are designed to look and feel like modern photo lab paper. Most photo grade media are resin coated, which means they have a paper core covered by a thin layer of polyethelene (plastic) . Plastic gives the paper its photo feel, stability (flatness), water resistance, handling resistance, and excellent feed consistency.
Prints on photo grade media are stable over long periods. With pigment inks in a protected environment, you can see up to 80 years on-display life. All RC papers are Photo Grade for two reasons. Plastic content is not technically archival by museum standards. Also, the inkjet coating of all RC papers is slightly acidic. It facilitates instant drying and does not actually change the stability of your inks over time. Virtually all RC papers have optical brightening agents (OBAs).
