Digital BW, The Print

It's remarkable that GB seems to be simple to use (even in a non-native
language!) to every one except Epson NA and the "experts" they brought
in to beta test it. I'm reaching the conclusion that the latter
dismissed this software out of hand without giving it a fair chance. It
seems that the "review" they did was biased, superficial, and did a
great disservice to Epson customers in North America.
 
Lloyd
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: ambrotype [mailto:ambrotype@...] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 1:12 PM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] Epson 2200 + Graybalancer report



this is an addendum to my report on the Epson 2200 here: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/message/177
90


Well I got around to downloading the GB software from the Epson 
France site. I then proceeded to print out the colour patches. The 
software is simple and straightforward to use. It comes with a pretty 
big manual - I didnt read a single word of it. The principle of GB 
has been outlined on the web, so it it was easy to get right in to 
it, and my high school french was sufficient to decipher the menus.

Once I had my printer calibrated I was pleasantly surprised : 
beautifully neutral graytone prints. I then started experimenting 
with sepia tones by pre-tinting in photoshop : I am very pleased with 
the results.

There is a problem with metamerism : a neutral tone (daylight)will be 
slightly magenta under my reference Solex light and bare bulb, and a 
neutral tone (Solex) will be slightly greenish/cyan under daylight. 
However the problem is bearable, and perfectionists will just target 
their print to daylight or artificial light source using two 
calibration settings.

Needless to say I wouldnt have gotten this far without the GB 
software, which Epson thoughtfully neglected to include with my 
printer - duh !!!

--A.






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]