Digital BW, The Print

I kept track of my first 2200 prints to see this for myself, I was printing
only 8x10" image size, I got about 45 prints before the first cart ran out
of ink, after another dozen prints a couple of other carts ran out too.

Speaking for the mac version of the software, there is a good 4 up on the
OSX version, i use it for test strips, it is especially handy for color
balance fine tuning.  For quantity printing, I prefer to do this in Quark.
An alternative that works very well is to prepare it as a PS file.  These
save a lot of time compared to running the sheet through multiple times.
However, printing is so slow on OSX that if you have a mac, you are way
ahead if you run your printer on OS9, not OSX, and accomplish this by
selecting OS9 as your startup disc, as opposed to running classic, check
archives for why.  Under this circumstance, I don't see the 4 up option but
maybe it is there somewhere?

Your ink and paper costs are primarily controlled by your supplier and the
shipping costs.  If you are in the lower 48 USA, then UPS surface is the
lowest cost shipping in my experience.  Here is their cost estimator:
http://wwwapps.ups.com/QCCWebApp/request  International shipments are best
by USPS and here are their international rates: http://ircalc.usps.gov/  A
fifty sheet box of 8.5x11 Epson paper weighs 1#6oz.  Add two pounds for the
shipping container.

Overall, material expenses are comparable to conventional darkroom prints.
Labor costs are higher for a one computer/one printer operation as compared
to darkroom.  However that is balanced by real estate and other lab
operation expenses.  Chemical darkrooms are costlier to run, but not by much
(assuming that you already have the equipment.  If you need to buy the
equipment, darkroom is more expensive to buy but it lasts for decades.)
Speaking only of B&W performance, the 2200 metamarism problems presently
prevent the 2200 prints from selling for as much money, or in as large a
quantity, as dye prints from an 1180.  However the result is generally
regarded as more permanent, and for my market that is more important.
Quadtone 2200 is expected to become available within the foreseeable future.
I would say that as of this month, about a quarter of my customers prefer
digital and will no longer accept chemical prints, and somewhat smaller
percentage of my customers will not accept digital under any circumstances.
I am certain that if I limited myself to one or the other that I would lose
a lot of money.  


Tom Robinson