Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk Paper (24" x 40' Roll)

Comments about Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk Paper (24" x 40' Roll):

In the last eight months I have had three problems with this paper. The first problem was as an extremely dirty packing box the paper arrived in. The box was so dirty, lint was transferred to the paper when I unwrapped it. The next two problems were exactly the same issue but six months apart. The paper came out of the box with a very thin groove on it. This thin line is hard to see on the paper without ink but easily seen with magnification. When ink is on the paper the grove appears like a scratch that I first thought was a printer problem. However, the defect is definitely there before it goes through the printer. I contacted Ilford the first time I had the problem and they said they were aware of the issue and sent me a replacement role. When it happened again six month later, I realized Ilford had no control over the quality of their product. After spending thousands of dollars on Ilford paper and hundreds of dollars on ink wasted on defective paper, I'm now going to switch to another paper.

Comments about Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk Paper (24" x 40' Roll):

I own a photography gallery in a resort town. I print over $100k a year on this paper. After trying many, I've settled on Gold Fibre Silk for several years now.

Comments about Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk Paper (24" x 40' Roll):

I go to Mass Art in Boston and usually print on the Smooth Fiber for work prints and Critiques, but I wanted a paper that my prints deserves for for shows and final reviews and I couldn't be happier with the depth and pop that the Gold Fibre puts out!

Comments about Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk Paper (24" x 40' Roll):

This is hands down the best inkjet paper I've ever used for B&W prints. It is also close enough to air-dried glossy silver darkroom paper to have that conversation. Specifically it has a great DMax, wonderful detail and a great sense of light and texture. When used with an Epson 7900 printer in ABW mode and warmed up a few percent it makes downright dramatic prints with tone that you can swim around in. I'd call it delicious. If you've ever spent any time in a darkroom you'll also appreciate the way it smells. For color however it's a bit flat and I prefer the Harman by Hahnemuhle Gloss Baryta Alpha-cellulose, White Glossy. But it's still so good for B&W that it deserves 5 stars just for this alone.

Comments about Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk Paper (24" x 40' Roll):

I use this paper to print large photos (as big as approximately 4 x 8') for mounting to panels. This paper behaves much better than the Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl as it is heavier, making it easier to work with and better for concealing surface irregularities present on the panel.

Comments about Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk Paper (24" x 40' Roll):

I have been using Museo Silver Rag as my "go to" paper for all jobs over the past year. I customarily shoot landscapes, portraits, and cityscapes and I have recently switched over to the Cheaper, Sharper Gold Fibre Silk. I enjoy the weight of it and the surface very much. It has a very sharp quality, but not to the point of distortion and a great feel in both color and black and white. The tonal range/gamut rivals any of the top of the line substrates. You can't beat a print that will last as long as the hahnemuhle and museo that is cheaper. I say at least buy a couple of sheets... You will be pleasantly surprised.

Comments about Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk Paper (24" x 40' Roll):

Using the manufacturers' ICC profiles and my Epson 9800, I compared Epson Premium Luster, Epson Exhibition Fiber, Museo Silver Rag, Harmon Gloss FB AL and Galerie Gold Fibre Silk. While such comparisons are obviously subjective, for me, Galerie Gold Fibre Silk was the winner. The ICC profile was excellent, the stipple wasn't obtrusive or overly dense (as I found it to be with Silver Rag), the paper didn't have a plastic sheen or feel (unlike the Harmon Gloss), the image "popped" in the right light, the blacks were rich indeed, and the flesh tones looked great. I was surprised to like it more than Exhibition Fiber, a paper that cost twice as much. The weaknesses? -- for one, like other photo-black papers, this paper requires just the right type of light, otherwise it can look flat. (I may be in the minority, but ironically, in natural daylight, I find that a good matte paper like Epson Velvet Fine looks richer than any of the photo-black papers). Secondly, the roll paper in particular is uncommonly fragile. The slightest nick or touch will mar your print, particularly in the first 24 hours. The paper can also crinkle easily. Be particularly careful as the print comes out of the machine! I found the sheets of this paper to be much heartier than the rolls. Still, it's the final product that counts, hence despite its fragility, Galerie Gold Fibre is my favorite photo black paper ... for now.