Digital BW, The Print

Recently I was printing for one of the print exchanges that we 
sponsor, and was having a very difficult time with my normal routine. 
I was printing with the PiezographyBW (R9) driver on an Epson 1160 
with MIS FSN inks using Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 188. 

The print has a rather large section of light-middle gray (20-40%)in 
the sky. That section of the print was showing an incredible amount 
of microbanding while the rest of the print looked great. I did all 
the usual: nozzle check - it was perfect, alignment - no problems, 
adjusted the output resolution - didn't help. I was thoroughly 
frustrated and ready to move on to another image. 

As a last ditch effort I decided to use John Woolf's curves for the 
Epson driver and wouldn't you know it, beautiful. In fact, the print 
was much more neutral. The Piezo (R9)driver prints the FSN inks very 
cool while the Epson driver with Woolf's curves printed very neutral. 
The blacks were much blacker, as many others have attested to. The 
dot pattern is more prominent, but acceptable. Overall it was 
interesting to see the difference with these inks and best of all 
resolve the microbanding. 

While I have not noticed the banding on every print I've made, on 
this one it was unavoidable, and switching drivers did the trick. In 
most cases the Piezo (R9) driver has done very well, and the choice 
of profiles has been very helpful. The dot pattern is non existent. 
But in this case the Epson driver with appropriate curves was the 
tool for the job. 

I just thought this experience might be helpful for anyone else out 
there experiencing similiar problems.

Gregory Schern
Inkjet Goodies - Photographic and Fine Art Inkjet Supplies
www.inkjetgoodies.com
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