Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Robert Morrison
<rmorrison@p...> wrote:

> Have you looked at step wedges/gray ramps for these two workflows?
> 
> I don't know about the RGB workflow for VM, haven't used it, but I
can say
> with absolute certainty after a lot of testing and densitometer readings
> that IP with the 2200 is no where close to an Ames curve.  Shadow detail
> from 90 to 100% is completely non-existent.  Transitions in midtones are
> very smooth with the 2200 and IP.

You'd be more of an expert Robert, but yes, as I posted, on Paul's
step wedge the 95-100% by 1% section blends into each other, and
distinctions are hard to see (this is 2200/IP5). When I put the 95%
step next to the 100%k step there is somewhat a diff. And I can just
barely see a diff between 95 and 96%k but I have to look REAL hard.
Therefore I concluded that 96-100%k WAS compressed. On previous wedges
done with Paul's VM curves the 95-100% k was more defined.

I haven't compared 1%k squares from 90 to 95%k but I can see a
definite diff between 90 and 95%k strip. That's about the extent of my
observations. I know on my prints I have had some shadow dropout, yes.



 <snip>

> 
> Using another driver (Ink Jet Control) to run the 2200 you can get
beautiful
> step wedges with just two inks (light black and black) that
perfectly follow
> an Ames curve.  They look very similar to Cone's Sepia
Pieztones...however
> slightly warmer.

Are you saying these are in effect Sepia toned and can't get any colder?

> 
> The main problem with the 2200 that will effect some people,
depending on
> the paper they use are dots in the hilights.  While this isn't a problem
> with a paper like German Etching, it is with Photo Rag or smoother...and
> particularly glossy papers.

Yes, I'm about calibrated with you there. Eclipse and photorag (to a
lesser degree) I find tolerable w /IP5. I don't use glossy but I bet I
would have problems with the dots if I did.

  IP helps to minimize this by adding photo cyan
> and photo magenta...but the cost is a significantly reduced tonal range.
> 
> In the end the best solution seems to be the new Ultra-quad
inkset...taking
> advantage of the advantages of the Ultrachromes...but putting them in a
> variable toned quad...of course if they don't turn out to clog our
printers.


That's my problem of course. If anyone will clog I will.<g> I really
would like to try Paul's new 4.35 setup in my now idle 1280. I think I
might wait another week-month to see how it performs in this vein.
Jim H.

> The best results with this inkset will be with a 1280/1290 or with a
> 2200/7600/9600 because of dot size...ideally driven with a RIP like
Ink Jet
> Control where you can build your own profiles.
> 
> Robert