Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, 
"mr_misty_44" <jharvey@i...> wrote:
> Antonis and Roy,
> 
>  Perhaps this should go to Roy but I thought both of you might 
> comment..
> 
> I've been using PiezoBW and Roark curves on my 3000 to 
make
> prints. 
> I've been unhappy with the PiezoBW software for the simple 
reason 
> that it is so Profile dependant and if you don't have the
> ink/paper 
> combination profile it does not work very well. I have an 1160 
and am 
> in the process of purchasing a 7500. The 3000 is good when it 
works 
> but…
> 
>  At any rate I'd like your takes on Roy's system, which he so
> kindly 
> made available, and the Bowhaus system. At this point what 
are the 
> Pros and cons of each. I still have 9.2 loaded on my G3 as well 
as 
> OSX10.2.4. So I will be able to work with either system.  I've
> been 
> alternately happy and unhappy with my results. I really would 
like a 
> system, which would allow me to be a bit more in control of the 
> results. I suppose a side comment might be made about Jon 
Cone's
> new 
> system as well. If anyone else would like to chime in I'd
> appreciate 
> it.
> 
> 					John H

John,

As I see it, Bowhaus and QuadTone RIP have quite a few
similarities but we've started at different ends of the problem.

My stuff started with OS X a given and a grayscale workflow
built into the normal printing system.  I have full control over
4 inks but not 6 inks because the regular gimp-print code
only provides that currently.   I've done a few aids to making
curves using a couple of spreadsheets but it's not a
productized, automated process. 

Bowhaus on the other hand seems to have put a lot of
effort into curve design software -- this is what they are selling.
Their printing workflow is based on a separate program that
prints TIFF files and initially runs on Mac OS 8 and 9 and
I guess under Classic.  Seeing how they are a money making
company, no doubt they will make it run on the other platforms.

So what should you do?  I'd say download both and try them
out.  It doesn't look like there are any Bowhaus curves for
the printers you have but at least you can see what its like.
I would think someone would have an 1160 curve soon.
As it turns out I have an 1160 and recently a 7500 both with
VM-Sepia inks so my 1160 curves are fine and I'll be working
on the 7500 for QuadToneRIP.  I expect the 3000 curves 
wouldn't be too difficult.

Roy