Digital BW, The Print

First, Bryan and Mark's group meeting of this and the 9000's 
digital dogs was the highlight of the whole Expo.  

I was very fortunate to be in a room with two dozen critics with 
their noses to my prints talking about how this square inch could 
be increased in contrast or that black could be deeper.  We were 
lining up blacks side by side.  My ultrachromes were a step up 
from my old 2000P pigments, but Mark's blacks from old 7000 
epson dye inks could not be beat.  Actually,  my MIS FS piezo 
blacks looked damn good.  As far as B+W is concerned there is 
nowhere to go but with quads.

There  were more questions about flaking Photo Rag and 
William Turner than comments about fading inks.  I always 
sweep my paper before inserting it into the printer.  I use a 
traditional Staedtler graphics handled horse hair brush.  Prints 
always go into clearbags before stacking or transporting.  

These are delicate materials.  Paul's paper coatings may be the 
ultimate answer.

One other impression.  I spent a lot of time looking at portfolio 
boxes.  Nothing moved me until I saw Mark's.  He simply took a 
standard clamshell style box and wrapped it in one of his 
beautiful photos.  He coated it with an antique varnish and glued 
it right around the box.  This was no quickie job, but it was 
individualized and special.

Frank

http://www.photoeye.com/frankward