ISSUE 122
46 / GEAR
TESTED: PERMAJET PORTRAIT RAG 305
Rag to richer!
£38
permajet.com
Permajet’s Portrait Rag paper has been updated for a more premium feel, with superior results
out these options on its website. The printer used was an Epson Surecolor SC-P800 using Epson’s inks, with matte black selected. The test prints looked impressive, without needing any colour or density adjustments. Rich colours looked satisfyingly saturated without being garish or lacking in robustness, which can happen with matte-finish paper. Another potential problem with this paper type can be weak, grey blacks, but that wasn’t an issue on Portrait Rag 305; blacks looked deep without blocking up or losing shadow detail. There was no problem with the reproduction of vibrant colours; they looked notably lively. More delicate hues were also handled very well and the flesh tones on portraits looked smooth, delicate and neutral – so as you’d expect from its name, there were no problems using this paper for people pictures. It exhibited a sure- footed performance with landscape, urban and travel shots too. Even gritty monochromes that I usually prefer on a paper with more sheen came out well. Put simply, Permajet Portrait Rag 305 comes very highly recommended. The matte, finely textured finish paired with a clean mid-white base provides a solid foundation for lovely prints. Blacks printed with a good depth, and highlight details were crisp and clean. Colour reproduction is rewardingly rich without being over the top, while delicate hues present no challenge. Portrait Rag 305 works out at £2.96 for a sheet of A3, so it’s close to the same price as other fine art paper options from Permajet. For the level of performance you get – which includes its archival properties – that rates as very good value, making this a versatile paper definitely worth a try for your fine art output. Blacks looked deep without blocking up or losing shadow detail
gently run a (freshly washed!) finger across its surface, you’ll be rewarded with a luxurious whisper. If a haptic experience is high up on your criteria when it comes to paper appeal, you won’t be disappointed. In terms of appearance, you’ll need oblique lighting to truly reveal its texture, so this is a paper that suits prints for exhibitions and a wide range of subject matter, because its finish doesn’t dominate the image. The paper contains optical brightening agents (OBAs), so doesn’t have the creamy-white look of OBA- free media, with a neutral mid-white appearance. It’s a pleasant, rather than strident white, so should complement most subject genres. To start this test, I made a colour profile using my X-Rite i1 Studio, compiling a selection of images to test the material’s mettle. Permajet provides generic profiles for its papers, but there’s also a free ICC custom profile service for its media, so check
Specifications Paper surface Matte Base weight 305gsm Paper thickness 0.54mm
Tested by Will Cheung
The paper type you choose to print on has a fundamental
Whiteness (CIE) 92 Base 100% cotton Acid free Yes Internal focusing Yes OBAs Yes
impact on the result, and can make the difference between a decent photo and a masterpiece. It’s that important, which is why it’s worth keeping a selection of inkjet media on hand to make the most of your best pictures. Permajet’s extensive inkjet media collection has a huge range of finishes – Portrait Rag 285 was launched close to decade ago and has been a perennial favourite for many. This has now been upgraded to Permajet Portrait Rag 305. The new paper is 100% cotton and has gained some weight, giving a lovely, reassuringly robust feel. The surface itself has a more pronounced
RAG TIME BRAND The Permajet paper might be
Sizes and prices A4 25 £37.96/£1.52 per sheet A3 25 £73.96/£2.96 per sheet A3+ 25 £90.95/£3.64 per sheet A2 25 £137.95/£5.52 per sheet
designed for portraits, but shows a full colour gamut
17inx15m roll £95.95 24inx15m roll £131.95 36inx15m roll £189.95 44inx15m roll £229.96
in our tests. So it’s suitable for most subjects, including our shy frog pal (above)
texture compared with 285. This finish is still very fine, and if you
Verdict
Overall rating 9/10 Permajet made a classic even better Pros Versatile, deep blacks for a matte finish Cons Higher end of the price range
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