Digital BW, The Print

I just found out about this group so I thought I'd post this here.  Thanks for any help.

I just got back a Epson 9600 13"x13" b&w print of a Nikon 8000 scanned negative and all I can say is I am thoroughly unimpressed.  It was printed on a 9600 with epson paper (I forget the exact paper at the moment) and Ultrachrome inks (photo black).  The operator had my darkroom print to go by so he can see how everything should look.

WRT to the sharpness the print... that isn't too bad.  It was a good scan of a very sharp image.  The sharpness holds even when viewing close... still not as sharp as the darkroom print, but close.  Looking at the eyes the print is fine, but detail gets lost in things like hair.  

The big problem is the resolution.  If you are looking at the print from arms length or further then the resolution holds its own when compared to the darkroom print.  But anything closer and it gets bad.  I don't see any "lines" on the print, but I can see the little dots quite clearly.  I've seen this in both color and B&W prints.  Tiny details get lost that are clearly there in the traditional print.

Now, on to the color and tone... well, the image I gave was a straight B&W print with black blacks and white whites and a good range of tones in between.  The print I got back looked very brown... like and extreme sepia toning had been done to it.  The lab said that was close as he could come to the B&W print I gave him as his "target."

I've seen comments on how these printers produce better results than a darkroom print and I don't see how that can be possible.  I can understand how that opinion can be made if the difference were very slight, but from what I'm looking at we aren't even in the same ball park, not even the same league... it isn't even the same sport! 

So, is this what can be expected or did I get a VERY bad print?  Like I said... it holds its own (baring the color and tone) from arms length away and further.  But, I don't see how people can say they are getting prints that equal darkroom prints.  I can see how another operator may be able get the color and tones better, but I don't see how the resolution and sharpness can get any better.  And, if this is as good as it gets how can people like Greg Gorman be using this printer for their gallery shows (color and B&W)?

Jeff

http://www.jeffsingerphotography.com