{"id":251437,"date":"2026-02-10T16:32:43","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T14:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diatecx.com\/test-indipendenti-valutano-le-performance-dei-supporti-diatecx-creative\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T12:54:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T10:54:02","slug":"independent-tests-diatecx-creative-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diatecx.com\/en\/independent-tests-diatecx-creative-media\/","title":{"rendered":"Independent Tests Evaluate the Performance of Diatecx Creative Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

When <\/span>Morten L\u00f8berg<\/b><\/a>, a professional photographer and a recognized benchmark in the evaluation of printable media, decides to include a brand in his annual mega test, it is never a random choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

For over twelve years, his comparative results have served as a reliable compass for photographic laboratories, art galleries, and professional distributors worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\n

For 2025, in the inkjet photo paper test published by <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>FOTOMAG 2025<\/b><\/a>, within the Fine Art paper section, the performance achieved by the Diatecx Creative line stands out, effectively positioning these media in the highest tier of technical performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Methodology That Leaves No Room for Approximation<\/b><\/h2>\n

The test examines a wide selection of professional papers, with particular attention to fine art and creative substrates, assessing print behavior, tonal rendition, and overall consistency.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most relevant aspects of L\u00f8berg\u2019s work is his methodological rigor. Each paper is analyzed using an Epson SureColor P-9500, a professional printer equipped with pigmented Ultrachrome PRO inks\u2014a technology widely adopted in the professional market.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is not a secondary detail: it means the observed results directly reflect real-world printing conditions, similar to those employed by many photographic labs and professional print service providers.<\/span><\/p>\n

The key parameter analyzed is <\/span>Dmax<\/b>, the maximum black density. In practical terms, this value indicates how deep and saturated the printed black can be on a specific paper. For matte fine art papers, L\u00f8berg considers a Dmax range between <\/span>1.60 and 1.75<\/b> to be excellent. Lower values typically indicate blacks drifting toward gray, compromising overall tonal depth and image contrast.<\/span><\/p>\n

Creative Textured: The Best Performer Within the Family<\/b><\/h2>\n

Within the test, Diatecx Creative papers are included in the matte category\u2014one of the most demanding in terms of print quality, ink absorption balance, and surface stability.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three variants, all made from <\/span>100% cotton<\/b> (ensuring chemical stability and long-term durability), achieved highly significant results.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most notable data point emerges from <\/span>Creative Textured 240 gsm<\/b>. Contrary to what one might expect from a pronounced textured surface, this substrate reaches the highest Dmax of the entire range: <\/span>1.73<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Technically, this demonstrates an excellent equilibrium between ink absorption capacity and surface resistance\u2014an engineering balance that is far from trivial when working with structured textures, where risks of ink pooling, micro-bleeding, or surface inconsistency are common.<\/span><\/p>\n

This value places Creative Textured not only at the top of its own family but also in the highest tier among all cotton papers tested by L\u00f8berg (the top value recorded in this category was 1.74).<\/span><\/p>\n

Smooth, Bright White, Ivory and Aquarelle: Performance and Positioning<\/b><\/h2>\n

Creative Smooth<\/b> (240 and 320 gsm) reaches a Dmax of <\/span>1.65<\/b> in its OBA-free version.<\/span><\/p>\n

OBA (Optical Brightening Agents) are chemical compounds that increase perceived whiteness by reflecting ultraviolet light; however, they may compromise long-term stability.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Smooth Bright White<\/b> version, which incorporates OBAs, pushes Dmax to <\/span>1.68<\/b>, while maintaining a pure cotton base. Both versions achieve <\/span>10 out of 11<\/b> on the magazine\u2019s whiteness scale\u2014particularly appreciated for gallery prints and limited editions where visual brilliance is a key requirement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among cellulose-based media, the positioning of <\/span>Creative Ivory Color 245 gsm<\/b> is especially interesting. Despite being OBA-free and featuring a slightly warm base tone (7\/11 on the whiteness scale), it achieves a Dmax of <\/span>1.68<\/b>, matching the Bright White version.<\/span><\/p>\n

L\u00f8berg explicitly notes the <\/span>\u201crimelig pris\u201d<\/span><\/i> (reasonable price) of this substrate\u2014an important factor for professionals managing high production volumes while maintaining cost control without sacrificing print quality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even <\/span>Creative Aquarelle 210 gsm<\/b>, despite its lighter weight and more pronounced watercolor texture, maintains a Dmax of <\/span>1.65<\/b>, fully within the excellence range indicated by L\u00f8berg for cotton fine art papers.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Do These Scores Mean for the Professional Market?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Range Breadth from a Single Supplier<\/b><\/h3>\n

The breadth of the offering\u2014smooth, textured, with and without OBAs, multiple grammages\u2014allows distributors and labs to cover diverse applications with a single supplier.<\/span><\/p>\n

A lab may propose:<\/span><\/p>\n