Digital BW, The Print

Keith: the MIS-VM inkset with Paul's curves worked perfect in my 1280.
I did mostly use the neutral curve. But there was nothing I could ever
complain about. Unfortunately, I can't explain why they worked for me
but not for you. I'm currently using MIS FSN-E inks with the Woolf
workflow which also seems to work very well. I just don't have
clogging problmes with either. But having tried the FSN-E inks, I may
go back to the VM inkset when my current inks run out.
I have a standard curve adjustment I use with every image but I scan
XP2 a bit flat to get the maximum detail in both shadows and
highlights.   
Bob Michaels

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Ed Mathews"
<ed@l...> wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Keith Douglas [mailto:kdouglas@q...] 
> <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