Digital BW, The Print

Richard:

Under a 10x loupe, I typically don't see any dots on the prints of 
stepwedges and/or ramps from 0% until about 40% on my 1160.  Could 
you please post high rez images of stepwedges and/or ramps you 
generate using both PiezoBW and 1160 RGB partitioned curve showing 
the dots?  

I know that there is varibility among 1160s, but to have dots in the 
highlights using the 1160 RGB partitioned curve is not typical.  Any 
possibility of noise?  Are you printing on EAM/EEM?

I'd be interested if others have observed dots in highlights as well.

Thanks.

Jeff Randall

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "rich8155" <richard@c...> 
wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> I'm still a relative beginner at this but after 2 months I am 
> getting some very satisfactory results.  Some background: I use an 
> Epson 1160 with an MIS CFS loaded with MIS FS-N inks.  I have the 
> Piezo driver and usually print with that as I have found in 
> comparisons with the Epson driver (with Randall curve applied) the 
> Piezo gives more dotless mid-tones and highlights.  Sometimes 
> however some prints look better with the Randall curve (the Piezo 
> tends to print darker).  So, with the less dots I have mostly used 
> the Piezo driver and have been in awe of the smooth mid-tones in 
> particular.  
> 
> But now I have printed an image that is showing me an amazing 
> difference from the Piezo driver results to the Epson drive/randall 
> curve results, and the Piezo is falling very flat in this 
instance.  
> The image can be found here:
> 
> <http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=956273&size=lg>
> 
> as you can see we have some fairly fast and radical transition from 
> severe highlights to almost pure black.  I printed the Piezo one 
> first and as you can see there are obvious and very poor transition 
> points to be seen around the highlights.  The result is awful and 
> unacceptable output.  The Epson driver/Randall curve seems to have 
> handled the transition in a much smoother and acceptable manner.
> 
> I have printed out two 21stepNew.jpg wedges using each driver since 
> then and I cannot really see any fault with either of them (again 
> though the Piezo prints darker shadows). They both look very good 
to 
> my untrained and less-experienced eye.  So I am puzzled.
> 
> I am not showing this to try and put down the Piezo driver.  I am 
> more asking if what I am finding here is typical or perhaps points 
> to a problem with my method or process.  If I only printed with the 
> Piezo I would think it has something to do with my printer, but 
from 
> the Randall results we can see the printer has the ability to print 
> just fine.  I have followed the set-up and workflow of both 
> drivers/curves precisely.
> 
> Any suggestions on why I'm getting these results?
> 
> Thank you for any input and comment.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Richard