Digital BW, The Print

Hi Keith,

> > > Imaging theory says to send data to the printer driver in 1/2 or 1/3
> > > increments of upper resolution dpi.
> >
> > Hi Keith,
> >
> > Where did you get that information from?  I believe this has been a
> > refuted
> > myth, at least as far as today's Epson printers go.
>
> Artifacts may be less prevalent with the EPSON drivers in current use,
> but the theory is still valid..

What theory is what I'm asking.

> > > Ergo, the magic numbers for a 1270/870  are 360, 480, and 720
> dpi... (at
> > > 1440 dpi print resolution) or for a 1280 at 1440 dpi print resolution
> >
> > I do not believe there are any magic numbers for printer resolution in
> > many
> > of today's printers, and certainly not Epsons.  It is entirely
> > dependant on
> > the printer driver, and what halftone algorithm is being used.
>
> True... But one other factor plays into it..  I haven't done a study on
> it yet, but I'm wondering if print overall print times might actually be
> longer when not working with data in those multiples..?

Can't answer that, but it is a good question.  Somehow, I don't think so,
since the printers are so much slower than the computer can process the
data...but that could be computer dependant too!

> The more
> extended interpolation that is done internally by the driver SHOULD (not
> necessarily WOULD) increase print time from start to finish..  Whether
> that time is negligible or not as a % of overall print time would be
> interesting..

I guess that's what I'm saying...if the processing time is faster than the
print time, there will be no increase, except the initial latency for the
first line, which is negligible.

> I shall accept your assertion that differences may not be apparent in
> downsampling, but in upsampling, you still need to aim for some number
> anyway.
> In those instances it still IS unrefuted that something like
> Genuine Fractals will do a better job

Better job than the Epson resize, I absolutely agree with that.

> AND that images below 360 dpi are
> losing detail as image dpi decreases.

I don't understand what you mean by that...please explain.  If I do get what
you are saying, that is totally image size/viewing distance dependant, and
there is no problem printing with very low PPI to the printer...depending on
the viewing distance.

Regards,

Austin