Digital BW, The Print

I to had the same frustrations with ink and paper, if you think that 
you have it hard try doing this in Australia, you are really on your 
own!!! I am a commercial advertising photographer see 
brucealexander.com,  Anyway after a few bad starts I got on to the 
photo rag paper and also the German etchers stock. Both are wonderful 
when you get everything right. Main thing is to print the 21 step 
wedge ans then use this when you are viewing the image on the 
monitor. Use the colour picker on photoshop set to % and read the 
numbers. Dont look at the screen grey if it says 50% it will print 
50% so get used to working with the numbers and not your eyes. Hope 
this has given you some encourgement to keep on trying.

Bruce



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "treadwinkle" 
<VOLveeta@b...> wrote:
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "bggilliand2001" 
> <bgilliand@m...> wrote:
> > Treadwinkle,
> > 
> > Have you printed a 21 step wedge greyscale file yet? This should 
be 
> > the first things you do with any new ink or ink change. You can 
get 
> > the file on the web site at this link:
> > 
> > 
> 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/Image
> > %20processing/21stepNew.jpg
> > 
> > It is located in the files>image processing section and 
> > titled "21stepNew.jpg" on the group web site. Print this first if 
> you 
> > haven't already. I struggled and struggled only to find out after 
> > printing this file that one of the ink carts was off. A call to 
MIS 
> > got an apology and a prompt replacement.
> > 
> > I understand there are some problems with some of the Piezo inks 
> > right now as well from reading posts on the Piezo list. Hang in 
> > there! It is a struggle at first, I've banged around withis this 
> for 
> > about 6 months. My firts prints were terrible, but now I'm 
finally 
> > getting the hang of things and some remarkable results. You will 
> have 
> > a noticable improvement with the Photorags. Make sure you do a 
head 
> > alignment on the printer with your new paper. 
> > 
> > Maybe you can find someone in your area to compare notes and 
> > workflows, or get some pointers on the conversion and printing 
> > process. There are some great tutorials out there. Just search 
> around 
> > on the Adobe sight or the web. Sounds like you have the 
photography 
> > down cold. Best wishes, I'll be glad to assist off line if you 
have 
> > any specific questions or want to walk through the process. 
> > 
> > Barry Gilliand
> > 
> > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "treadwinkle" 
> > <VOLveeta@b...> wrote:
> > > I'm shooting actor headshots.  I've got a Canon d60, Epson 
1280, 
> > > piezotone warm neutrals and... eh!  I'm waiting for "the paper" 
> to 
> > > arrive because thusfar, with the Epson Archival Matte, the 
> results 
> > > are just plain unacceptable.  The Hahnemühle Photo rag is on 
> > > backorder, and I don't know if IT will satisfy whenever I 
finally 
> > > ACTUALLY see the stuff.  It's such a crapshoot, I'm this close 
to 
> > > returning to the darkroom.  Does the right paper REALLY exist?
> > > 
> > > Is anyone out there SO happy with their digital b&w production 
> that 
> > > will PLEASE ease my fears that I've dived into a technology 
that 
> > > really hasn't gotten there yet?  Help me!!!  Is it possible to 
> find 
> > > b&w satisfaction in the digital world?  Can real b&w be 
achieved?
> > > 
> > > I'm at a point where I just want someone to say, "try this 
paper 
> > > with that particular ink and printer and you'll get very good 
> > > results".  Because so far, well... I'm tired of wasting money.
> > > 
> > > Thanks for any thoughts.
> > > 
> > > Treadwinkle