Digital BW, The Print

> Printing neutral B/W imagery is about the hardest thing to do in
> whole world, using color inks. Easy to print B/W imagery; very
> hard to do it and keep it neutral.
> 
> So, even though I won't hit you over the head with the "standard
> response", I'll simply quote it above.
> 
> It's simply not fair to expect that printer to print perfectly neutral
> B/W without a custom profile. You might hit by accident, but you
> don't really have the right to complain if you don't get a profile.
> 
> I will say, however, that the canned profiles that came with my
> Ultrachrome 96 are extremely good. Especially the Archival Matte
> profile.
> 
> Try it under these conditions:
> 
> * Media type: Archival matte
> * DPI: 1440
> * HiSpeed: Off
> * No Color Adjustment
> * SuperMicroWeave: Off
> 
> PrintDriver: ColorManagement:
> 
> Source> Adobe98RGB
> Destination> 2200 Archival Matte MK
> 
> * File should be RGB.
> 
> * Monitor should be calibrated, but if not, use Info Pallette over
> several areas. View RGB values to make sure they're neutral, ie
> 145R/145G/145B. Or, in RGB, choose Desaturate to throw your
> values back to neutral.

you might also want to try converting the file to the printer's profile
prior to printing, use the conversion engine that best suits your tastes as
you view the change on screen... I prefer Adobe CCM : RelCol : Black point
comp checked for most conversions to epson canned profiles, but Perceptual
may work better for your file.  Then your Destination in the driver should
be "same as source"...

Also, another thing to try to ensure your file is neutral before printing,
instead of desaturating the entire file, go thru the channel mixer in
monochrome to adjust the grays to your liking.  after another test print
adjust your curves, pull the blue out a bit if it still exists.   You may
find some color crossover but you can play with that as well.

I've managed some rather nice neutrals from my 2000P, metamerism aside,
without custom profiles, and without a lot of color crossover after some
curve play.  

Carolyn