Digital BW, The Print

Hello everyone,

my wish:

- I still use Piezography with MIS FS on Epson 1160
- and I still try to obtain by twicking the dot gain curve in PS a 
picture on screen that matches the final print,

and I am not happy with the result... (and think that most of my poor 
prints are due to the fact that I applied inadequate corrections on 
my pictures as shown on screen).

Apperently, I read on the newsgroup that I had to go through a 21 
step wedge print as analyzed by a densotimetre, the reference being 
the X-rite 810 (I have seen a couple exchanged on e-bay for about 200 
to 300 $).

Would someone on the list be kind enough to describe how to work with 
a densitometre (or may be to link me to specific source of 
information)? 

Is  the 810 the best product in order to obtain the adequate dot gain 
curve for a correct representation of the print? Do I have also to 
buy the calibration tools for the X-rite 810?

I am ready to spend an another 200/300 $ for having a correct picture 
on screen, but is this densitometre a great deal for such very 
specific job? Is it difficult to work with?

Thanks a lot for your help.

JM Humbert
Paris, France