Digital BW, The Print

Just by chance, I checked Colorbyte's download site and found that on 9/4 they added three new profiles for the 1280 and Selenium PiezoTone apparently based on the three test patches I sent them. The profiles are for Epson Archival Matte, Hahnemuhle Photo Rag and German Etching.

Comparing step wedges, all three look like vast improvements over the other IP5 profiles available for the 1280 that I tried with the Sel-PT inks. Unfortunately I no longer have the PT black in my 1280 having replaced it with FSN black, so I am not getting an accurate view of the lower end of the scale. Perhaps someone who still has the full set in their 1280 and IP5 can comment.

Today I sent Colorbyte test patches printed with the Sel-PT grays and FSN black on EAM, Photo Rag, German Etching, Wells River, Somerset Enhanced Radiant White Velvet and Eclipse Satine Bright White. Hopefully they will be able to profile these in the near future.

I noted that the 50% is noticeably different from the 50% produced by the Piezo plugin. The problem with changes like this and, I think they are unavoidable if we want to move forward, is that you are not going to be able to pull up a file you optimized for the old Piezo ink and the plug-in, and print it with PiezoTone and IP5 without adjusting the image.

IP5 still does not seem to be getting the best Dmax out of the ink either. As has been noted the Piezo driver routinely produces lower Dmax than then the Epson driver with the same ink. IP5 is a little lower than the Piezo driver. Hopefully this is something that can we corrected in the software. I sent Colorbyte 100% patches printed with all three drivers so that they can see what is going on.

I will let you know when I find out anything new.

Martin Wesley

http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html





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