Digital BW, The Print

----- Original Message -----
From: "bluzdoctor" <bluzdoctor@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 1:22 PM
Subject: [Digital BW] New to Digital B&W printing...


> Hello:
>
> My name is Joel Beeson and I have been a photojournalist/documentary
> photographer for the past 10+ years. I was trained in silver-based
> darkroom techniques for publication. I have been using Photoshop for
> years, doing web-based imaging, etc. but have not had much success
> printing my mostly black and white work at home from our Mac G4 and
> Epson photo 750.
>
> After seeing prints made by Gene Nocon on his Epson 1200 with MIS inks,
> I found an Epson 1160 printer (new) on the web [it's not even here yet]
> and I have been researching digital B&W printing techniques and inks,
> etc.
>
> I have seen some articles, etc. comparing the MIS quadtone inks and the
> Cone Piezography system. The Cone system seems very good in terms of
> resolution, but it's expensive, no? But I've read also that the Cone
> inks are warm toned; my silver work all has been printed in the past on
> Ilford Gallerie paper, which I consider neutral--maybe on the warm side
> of neutral.
>
> I would like some info and suggestions regarding where to start with
> digital printing. Any feedback on these questions would be appreciated:

Joel,

A lot of choices and things are changing very rapidly. But here are some
suggestions good for today.
>
> 1) What inks and papers should I use to get full-toned neutral prints?

If you want a neutral tone from a quad/hex ink set the choices are MIS VM or
MIS Sepia-VM using a neutral balanced RGB separation curves, or MIS Full
Spectrum Neutral with the Piezo driver although this is a cool neutral. For
papers there is Epson Archival Matte, Hahnemule Photo Rag, Legion Photo
Matte, Eclipse Satin for a rather smooth finish. Lots of other to chose
from.
>
> 2) Is Piezographic system worth the expense?

Yes. I think the software is excellent and the pricing is not out of line
given the sales volume and the amount of work that was put into it. I do not
personally care for the warm tone of the Piezo ink but the software works
well with the MIS Full Spectrum (FS) inks.

>
> 3) What quantity output of prints justifies buying the bulk ink
> systems, and if so, which system is best?

Just about any. You might want to start with cartridges to try some
different ink sets first but long term the savings on a continuous system is
very quick.
>
> 4) What is the best source of info on digital b&w printing?

Sorry to say that at the moment it may be this list and the Piezo3000 list.
I don't know of any books on the topic of inkjet quad/hex printing. There
have been some good articles in View Camera and Camera Arts magazine among
others. The problem is that things are changing so fast any book published
is pretty much doomed to be out of date by the time it hits the stores.

Search the archives here, check out the Files section and ask questions.
>
> 5) Any tips on using the Epson 1160 on a Mac platform? Do you print out
> of Photoshop directly?

Can't help you specifically about the Mac but you do print directly from
Photoshop to the print driver which might be the Epson driver or the Piezo
driver depending upon which path you take.
>
> thank you and excuse the probably redundant  and ill-informed questions
> of a newcomer.

You are welcome. One of the reasons the list is hear is to help people get
started.

Martin Wesley