Digital BW, The Print

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Keith Douglas [mailto:kdouglas@...] 
<snip>
> Given that Evelyn also had poor results with the Roark 
> curves, I wonder if 
> some printers (of the same model) have different enough 
> characteristics 
> that the "standard" (ie. roark) curves don't work, but other curves 
> do.  Once I get my curve completely neutral, I wonder if 
> someone else with 
> a 1280 that the Roark curve *does* work with, could try my 
> curve.
<snip>

Well, between clogs I've been using the Roark curves with the MIS VM
inks in my new 1280, and here's what I've found:

1.  I really like the overall tones, and definitely see that the curves
are appropriately named.
2.  The Neutral curve is the only one that gives me decent results, and
even with that I find I need to increase the contrast quite a bit and
also brighten the image some.  And I can't seem to get a very dense
black on Heavy Weight Matte.  But I see it has potential for me.
3.  I like the tone of the Medium Warm curve, but it starts to introduce
a kind of solorized look to some of the tones, and I can't seem to
figure out what tones it's doing this with, it seems random and they
just show up as weird highlights in places.
4.  The warm curve makes this solorized look even worse, truly looking
like a darkroom flashing while it's in the developer.  It's totally
unusable for me.

I'm ready to try another set of curves, but a visit to the MIS site
doesn't show anything else specifically written for the 1280 and VM
inks.  I'll happily take recommendations/explanations/comments.

Thanks,
Ed
http://lightandsilver.com