Digital BW, The Print

In no certain order...

1. Your print gradation will improve if you move to a 6-color or 7-color 
printer.

2. I have a Polaroid SprintScan 120 and use it regularly to scan b/w medium 
format film. I've been very happy with it. As for dpi, do the math and see 
what you need on the input side to get your desired output at about 300 
dpi. For example, an 8 x 10 at 300 dpi is 2400 x 3000 pixels. A 2800 dpi 
scanner will give about 2660 x 3920 for 35mm -- just enough.

3. A glossy b/w print is more problematic. I print on matte paper with an 
Epson 2000P and an Epson 1280 running third party ink. I like the look of 
matte better. For glossy, an Epson 2200 or a 1280 may be possibility. You 
didn't say how long you want the prints to last. If, say, 10-20 years is 
OK, a 1280 using Epson ColorLife paper may be acceptable. It is a semigloss 
paper.

4. Another option for glossy is having a Lightjet print made if you have a 
local lab that offers such.

Jeff Greer

At 11:10 AM 09/01/2002 -0700, you wrote:
>Much of my photo business is shooting Headshots also (see
>www.rickschiller.com  )    I've  switched to printing digitally, scanning
>from film ( TMY pulled a stop, TMX, FP4, Pan-F )   First big problem is
>giving people glossy prints, no way my clients will accept matte finished
>prints so that limits your ink choice.  On an Epson 860 (4-color)  I went
>with the Lyson Quad blacks and was very disappointed with the strong
>mid-tone magenta cast.  I switched to Lyson Small Gamut and am getting
>better tones.  I use the Lyson paper.   But the big problems are as follows:
>
>1. Gradation is not as smooth, especially in the highlights.  I have a low
>end scanner ( Canon 2720 ) and really need to upgrade.  I posted here 2 days
>ago and don't know whether to go with a Nikon ls4000/ls40 or
>Microtek/Polaroid.   And if I need to spend more money on the higher end
>4000 dpi models.
>2. My digital prints are good and when duped to lithos, ordinarily look
>better then many dupes I've seen from darkroom prints, sharper.  But
>gradation is still lacking.
>3. I have some test scans from Nikon scanners, they are sharper then the
>Canon 2720.  But the sharpness has a downside in that every minute mark on
>the negs, which would not be picked up in the darkroom, the scanner picks up
>and has to be spotted out in Photoshop.
>4. There are other issues, I'm tired of writing right now but open to all
>ideas . . . .
>
>Yes, until I get it all resolved I'm considering going back to darkroom
>printing or sending all printing work out depending on my level of bookings
>in any given week.
>
>Rick
>
>
>
>
>
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