Digital BW, The Print

Hi Jeff,

> Basically I was doing this test to see if I should purchase the Epson 
> 2200.

I've read the epson 2200 has a different driver than the 7600/9600. I 
believe that is why the Atkinson profiles are not effective with it. 
It's a different ballgame but gives very lovely prints when you get to 
know it. Cool neutral when all inks are used, very little metamerism, 
no green here unless I print to Epson watercolor paper. There is a move 
to greater metamerism when you have long midtones, the more contrast 
the image has, the more neutral I find the print.

Black only has proven very lovely for soft focus images, or a more 
painterly approach on arches paper etc. Also on German Etching. The 
dots to my eyes are so random with the proper tonal manipulations make 
it appear as a sweet grain, rather than an ink jet dot. Very different 
than the results from previous epsons.

You need a new test I figure.  While I prefer Piezo Carbon Sepia now 
for the warm tones and transitions, the 2200 will fill the needs for 
many things, including cooler toned black and white work using all 
inks, no dots... ;)

>
> I'm also not sure that any of the local pro labs will have done a lot 
> of research or fine tuning their 9600's  for B&W.  So i don't think 
> I'll be able to do much better locally.  I want to know that the 
> results are possible with the 2200.  Once I get the equipment I'll 
> fine tune it to the most anal of possibilities!

The best way to test, is to do it yourself, otherwise you are at the 
mercy of unknown operators, and as you say, unknown quality control... 
on top of that of course, you can read all the posts you wish, but 
bottom line, you are you're best judge for your own images of course.

Carolyn