Digital BW, The Print

Hi Jo,

I have no experience with Piezo B&W. My only experience with Inkjet
Mall was to buy a set of profiles for printing Gen4 Enhanced on my
Epson/1270. These profiles were not satisfactory for my use. Too many
colors fell out of gamut and when printed lost all detail. I
ultimately paid for a custom profile (from a different company) which
was a vast improvement but still nowhere close to the excellent
results I get with the IP5/2200 and the supplied IP5 profiles. To my
eyes the prints are neutral with almost dye-like saturation. I use the
matte black 2200 ink. 

I have very limited experience with B&W on the IP5/2200. I have a lot
of experience with MIS VM Epson/1160 with the Roark curves. I am
accumulating a lot of experience with color on the IP5/2200. I proof
on EEM and print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 188. To my eyes, between EEM
and Photo Rag, it is easy to see that the whites are whiter and the
blacks are blacker on Photo Rag. This is an added dimension of "smooth
crispness" when viewed side by side. So far I have not had the flaking
problem with Photo Rag.

Earlier I did not mean to imply that printing B&W on the IP5/2200 is
anything but totally acceptable. It's just that, all things
considered, compared to MIS VM, within my narrow IP5/2200 B&W
experience, I like the softer tones of MIS VM better.

I have tried sending the exact same file to IP5/2200 and MIS VM
Epson/1160. I start with an RGB file that has been converted to B&W
with Digital Imaging Tools Convert to BW Pro. This converted file is
still an RGB file. 

I do a grayscale mode conversion to the BW Pro RGB file in Photoshop
and then send it to IP5/2200. 

I apply the Roark medium warm curve to the BW Pro RGB file and then
send it to the MIS VM Epson/1160 controlled by the stock Epson 1160
Windows driver

The IP5/2200 print has much more contrast with deeper blacks but with
loss of a significant amount of shadow detail. Transition areas are
generally abrupt. It definitely looks snappier.

The MIS VM Epson/1160 print is softer but has more shadow detail and
transitions between light and dark areas are generally smooth. The
print is overall softer and the blacks are not as deep.

Remember, I said I sent identical files.

I suspect that if I would crank down the contrast in the BW Pro
conversion and send that to IP5/2200 that the print would probably
look as good as, if not better than, MIS VM Epson/1160 and with deeper
blacks to boot. 

I have been preoccupied making color prints for a show so I have not
pursued IP5/2200 B&W as much as I want to. When I do have time to do
further testing, I will report back.

Highlights and vast open areas of near-white do not evidence any dots
to my eyes with either setup.

I feel that after a year's struggle I have reached a temporary stage
of printing nirvana.

Regards,

Bill


> I am using an Epson 2100 (European equivalent for 2200) for colour
and B&W and I love the colour images but cannot get neutral B&W images
out of this printer whatever I have tried.
> So from your story I understand I need  Colorbyte to get neutral
results...or use MIS VM.
> Do you have any experience with Piezo B&W? If so, how does it
compare to MIS?
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Jo Brunenberg