Digital BW, The Print

on 3/3/03 3:10 PM, Robert <LA_Native@...> at LA_Native@...
wrote:

> How neutral can you get your B&W images with the Epson 2200 printer
> and Premium Lustre paper?

Hi Robert,
I just recently bough the 2200 myself and have been researching various ways
of getting that elusive neutral. First, my grayscale prints are fairly
neutral right out of the box using printer color management. Fairly neutral
meaning a consistent grayscale hue but with a bit of a color cast. For me
it's slightly cyan or green. I've tried many things including Epson's free
downloadable Graybalancer but it hasn't worked to my taste. When I say
neutral that means to me dead on, silver print neutral (omitting the Brovira
to Portriga range). It should look B/W period under any light conditions.
That, as it turns out, is a tall order.
Here's what I've learned in a nutshell.
It is nearly impossible to get a consistent neutral across various paper
types grayscale image from systems relying on color inksets to provide your
B/W prints. The metamerism, from what I've been able to gather, is coming
form the mostly yellow inks in your B/W inkjet print combined with the
optics of your eye. RIPs like the Image Print 5 are eliminating a lot of
yellow etc. but I'm not sure this RIP is a good solution either for various
reasons.
Even the lightjet prints which are also a color system (although not inks)
are very difficult to get neutral and eliminate metamerism.  Sooo, I'm
beginning to feel that at this point Piezography which is using black and
gray inks only is probably the most neutral
B/W option. If you've been following the posts in the last few days you'll
see there have been some announcements in that department that are worth
looking into. I have at this point no experience with Piezography but will
be exploring it soon.
Good luck Robert.

Sue

Sue Tallon Photography
suetallon@...





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