Innova Decor papers

Innova IFA-23 Decor watercolour paper 245gsm review

During Keith’s recent review of the Canon 6450 24″ wide format printer, to look at a ‘watercolour’ finish version of Innova’s ‘Decor’ range.

When testing the previous iPF6300, Keith looked at two slightly thinner examples IFA 24 and 25, the second being a double sided paper.

In this short review Keith looks at Innova Decor Watercolour 245gsm

Article Index

• About the paper
• Using icc profiles
• Print Quality
• Summary

Innova papers are available from many other outlets internationally.

We've reviews of many Innova products. See the Innova Category in the dropdown menu at the top of the right column.

About the paper

The Decor range is aimed at a more cost conscious market, but apart from being relatively thin, it looks fine for a range of uses such as posters or albums.

I was looking at a 17″ roll on the iPF6450, but it’s also available up to 60″

• Innova Decor Art 17″x30m roll 245g Photo Paper (IFA-23-432×30)
• Innova Decor Art 24″x30m roll 245g Photo Paper (IFA-23-610×30)
• Innova Decor Art 36″x30m roll 245g Photo Paper (IFA-23-914×30)
• Innova Decor Art 44″x30m roll 245g Photo Paper (IFA-23-1118×30)
• Innova Decor Art 60″x30m roll 245g Photo Paper (IFA-23-1524×30)

This from Innova:

“A bright white, inkjet coated rough surface watercolour paper excellent for decor art reproduction in large editions.”Key features are listed as:

• Bright White
• Opti-coat precision coated
• Great colour accuracy
• Archival quality
• Dye & Pigment ink compatible
• Rough textured matte surface
• Alpha Cellulose
• Instant Dry

ICC profiles and media settings

The paper was profiled for the iPF6450 after creating a custom media setting, based on a Canon watercolour paper.The picture below shows a profiling target, produced and measured with the SU-21 spectrophotometer unit on the front of the iPF6450. To the left are calibration and linearisation prints from creating the custom media setting process.

Print Quality

The print surface is textured, but with a smooth matte finish to it.

It’s a bright white paper, with moderate amounts of optical brighteners (OBA) in it, and not marketed as archival.

I don’t have many of my landscape or architectural images that benefit from the textured finish, although this Oregon wheat field image, after conversion during my testing of the Topaz Adjust plugin, does look quite nice…

A detail from the above shot shows the texture.

The image is printed across the roll, so the texture running left-right above is along the length of the roll.

Note that despite the prints coming from roll paper, they have lost a lot of their curl after being left flat for a while.

Detail with texture

The paper is quite stiff and resists creasing well, particularly the ‘krinks’ (V shaped creases) that are the bane of careless handling (i.e. people coming in, saying “this is nice”, and picking up a print…

Summary

A textured bright white paper aimed at the higher volume decorative art print market.

Profiles well, and takes a good amount of ink, to give vibrant colours and depth (for a matte paper).

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More print related information

For information about other printers, paper reviews and profiling (colour management) see the Printing section of the main Articles and Reviews page, or use the search box at the top of any page. There are also specific index pages for any articles connected with the following topics:

• Digital Black and White
• Tutorials and 'How to' articles
• Colour Management
• Printer test images
• Why do your prints look wrong?

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