Digital BW, The Print

Scott,

Not sure if you are asking a question or making a statement as you seem to
have a pretty good handle on what the scene is, as least as far as MIS and
Piezo are concerned. They both have their advocates and their advantages.
That there is no clear favorite just speaks to the fact that they are both
good, viable, alternatives. Which one you should use, if any, depends on
your primary preferences: control over color (MIS inks), or ease of use
(Piezo driver), and which workflow better supports your intended printer.

Probably the safest place for someone to start from today would be with the
Piezo driver with MIS FS inks, but that's just one man's semi-informed
opinion.

Whether any of this is easy or not depends on your tolerance for pain.

Jump in, you'll enjoy...

Todd


> Hello Friends,
> First and foremost, I probably speak for a number of eavesdropping
> members of this group when I thank you for sharing your knowledge and
> ideas with us.  It is a tremendous resource.
> There is another printer out here.  As a physician and father,
> black and white photography is my hobby.  As an enthusiast, I long to
> produce images like I see on your websites.
> I don't have access to a custom lab without the mail. . . I
> don't have a wet darkroom.  The digital darkroom is more accessible
> and more affordable.  The learning curve, I think, no less difficult.
> To gain widespread support for this medium, we must gain in
> numbers.  But while you argue over minute technical details of blacks
> being black and details in shadows being present. . . we never see
> references as to what will advance this art?
> For a hobbyist, we want a reliable, reproducible printing form.
> We want it to be of superior quality, but want to concentrate on the
> image as our primary goal.  If I get 4 hours to sit down and try to
> produce some work, it is frustrating and will be terminal if that
> time is spent clearing clogs, aligning heads, trying to correct
> banding, etc. . .   Is scanning, formatting and printing quality with
> ease a pipedream?  For this, it seems piezo would get the edge, yet
> then you get the clogs, the green etc.  So, where should a newcomer
> begin or end?
> So, while we look to your work for our advancements, some
> consideration should be given to quality with consistency and
> technical ease.  It will keep the door open to the hobbyist and may
> someday make the digital black and white darkroom more popular than
> we ever imagine. 
> Thank you,
> Scott Michener