Digital BW, The Print

Louis de Stoutz <loudest@...> wrote:
>
> ...
> I recently bought an Epson 1400, a box of Hot Press Natural, and 
> everything needed to make my first Carbon-6 batch ...
> 
> But first, I wanted to fool around a bit with the Claria inks
> and a few boxes of Epson Archival Matte I had bought years ago
> for proofing the Hahnemühle. Thus I set up QTR for some BO 
> printing with the Claria black ink.
> 
> To begin with, I am stunned by the quality and resolution of details 
> this printer is capable of reproducing. ...

The Claria (or Noritsu-Epson in my case) on a glossy paper  at a full 720 dpi image resolution and best printer qualtiy is even more  amazing.  The un-veiled (no bronzing, etc.) image, 2.4 dmax blacks, and sharp edges give the most 3D look I've seen.

 
> On the other hand, d-max is less than impressive. I get a
>  value of 1.56 ...

Try your Hahnemuhle Photo Rag.  I've hit over  2.0 with the dye black -- just amazing for  a matte paper.  It's very paper dependent.  

In general, I  like carbon on cotton for matte fine art display, but the dyes for glossy cards and small prints that will be handled, not under glass,  and not on the wall.  So, I have "eboni-4" in the 1400 (Eb6-Y, LM, M, and K) for the fine art.  I also have the Noritsu-Epson K+13%M in the C and a 30% dilution of that in the LC for quick, dramatic cards and brochures (which, by the way, I print  with the Epson driver and an ICC that has a cyan only straight-line curve  in it).

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com