The Baryta Challenge

Now I have to work hard to market both the Ilford Gold Fibre Silk and the Harman Fibre Base inkjet papers.

Before the baryta, all inkjet papers are just printing quality not photographic. Now we have three types in the world, referring to "Battle of the Barytas" and it is quite interesting that I have to deal with two out of the three types. Someone asked me whether it was difficult to handle. I said that both Ilford and Harman baryta inkjet papers are high photographic quality and consumers could choose according to their taste.

That is not the first challenge. In the film era, I had to advise my students etc. about the choice among Kodak's various color films like Gold, Ektar, Ektapress etc. In fact, we had lots of color papers at that time.

With the digital imaging, the difference between cameras, CCD and ATD processes are not so great in compare with the traditional method.

Certainly, many consumers are still failed to understand the inkjet paper can make or break their final imaging results.

As I always mention, the problem is the way to see one's photos. At a glance, just a few seconds, the prints with the higher contrast and lower gradation may be more pleasing. When one appreciates the image, I prefer to say enjoying the image, and then the print with the right contrast and appropriate gradation will always be the best.

In other words, that is the drawing between false and natural beauties. Nowadays, just like a critic said, only the diamond was true in Hollywood. The choice of cosmetic surgery beauty is really a personal case. But in photography, I have devoted to truth ever since and I believe that without truth, photography is nothing worth for us to work on.

It is lucky that I have the chance to work with the best imaging techniques both in the traditional and the digital eras.

For all my works on this topic, you can goto Ilfordinkjet HK and Harmaninkjet HK.