Moab Lasal Exhibition Luster – new go-to inkjet paper

I am now settled on using Moab’s Lasal Exhibition Luster, a US made inkjet paper, as my replacement for the German Hahnemuehle that I have been using for the past five+ years for making print evaluations. As I stated in my previous Lasal article, this will be my proofing paper before I upgrading my photograph image to a 100% rag for exhibitions and print sales.

There are numerous considerations environment considerations when looking to improve the environment and ways to reduce greenhouse gases. Besides the carbon footprint involved in the transportation of various materials, there are the paper manufacturing steps, raw components, the chemical processes utilized, and underlying quality systems.

For Moab in Utah, their offices are now powered by wind generation, while the actually converting plant is not, which is one question they answered for me. The facility in Utah I believe is a converting plant, which means they purchase giant rolls of paper, then coat, slit, package, label and case pack the inkjet paper(s) for distribution and sale. It is better for the environment to ship bulk raw materials to a converting plant and then the finished goods, the packages of cut and trimmed paper, which has a lot of space and air that is subsequently shipped to a customer.

Another aspect that I have inquire about but yet to confirm is their entire paper production chain for their papers using Chlorine Free methods, which includes Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) (which can still release dangerous chemical), Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) (virgin wood pulp), or Process Chlorine Free (PCF) (recycled pulp) for paper bleaching? Would be really good to know…

There is an international quality system, ISO 14001, that has been developed for use by companies that is meant to ensure that the companies use best environmental practices for all of their operations. I have not been able to find out if Moab is ISO14001 compliant, but I am sure that with more inquires about this could substantially increase their management’s awareness that their customers would like them to implement it. In the past, I have worked at company sites in which they implemented these kind of changes that actually resulted in recovering their investment cost and then some, resulting in a win-win.

Concurrently I have been in contact with FreeStyle Photo & Imaging Sales, a local retailer here in Southern California about stocking this paper again. Done! Thus I just placed my first order for the 250 sheet box, which with FreeStyle’s pricing, has the per sheet price at 0.70 USD, which is really a good deal. Actually I think that purchasing the 250 sheet boxes is ideal size for schools, artists and other organizations that need a substantial inkjet printing paper with pretty awesome color gamut in bulk quantity to reduce operating costs.

As to the image above, this is from a series of seascape photographs (Warming Water) that investigates climate change. The underlying reason I am looking at ways to reduce the carbon footprint and greenhouse gases as an eco-minded artist, which switching to an US based inkjet paper company will support. Hope you would consider this as well.

So as I use my inventory of other inkjet printing papers, I am quickly replacing these with the Moab inkjet papers. Cool! A small and steady change to support the environment and reduce greenhouse gases.

Best regards,

Doug

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Workshops and Portfolio Reviews

Southeast Center for Photography (SEC4P): Creative PhotoBook workshop (Sold Out), a virtual event on Zoom; January 22 & 23 and 29 & 30, 2022, 10am – 1pm, EST (3 hour session each day, with a week between the weekend sessions to work your book-dummy).

Los Angeles Center of Photography (LACP): Exposure Weekend, virtual portfolio reviews, which I am one of the many portfolio reviewers available, January 27 – 30th, 2022, details here.

Medium Photo: Developing a Creative Photo Book, a virtual (Zoom) workshop I will be leading again in conjunction with Medium Photo on: March 5th & 6th and then March 12th & 13th, 2022, from 9am to noon, PST. More details and sign-up available now at Medium Photo.

Colorado Photographic Arts Center (CPAC): Developing a Creative Photo Book, a virtual (Zoom) workshop I will be leading on Saturday & Sunday, May 14th & 15th and then Saturday & Sunday 21st and 22nd, 2022, from 1pm to 4pm Mountain Time (MT). Registration is open with discounts for members.