Digital BW, The Print

Does anybody know if the Epson 2200 Rip is available in a "Trial" 
version? I don't see it on the Epson USA site.

Thanks,

Sierra Gold

--- In 
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "robert_ardinger" 
<rardinger@k...> wrote:
> The Epson RIP uses at least one of the Cyan and one of the Magenta 
> inks (it may use both of each) along with the 2 black inks. This 
can 
> be seen in Mr. Peter Nelson's helpful web page on metamerism:
> 
> http://studio-nelson.com/inkjet/bw22003.htm
> 
> and in a less skillfully done image I scanned and enlarged (and 
> sharpened to allow definition of the color of the dots):
> 
> http://home.kc.rr.com/rardinger/epsonrip.jpg
> 
> (this image is a direct scan of a print I made with the 2200/Epson 
> RIP/matte black/Epson enhanced matte)
> 
> I cannot see much if any yellow ink used in these samples.  It is 
the 
> yellow ink that is thought to be the problem with much of the 
> metamerism (so I have read).
> 
> The Epson 2200 RIP does not have any ability to alter tone (any 
> ability that I can find at least).  I tried altering the tone of 
the 
> image file in PS but got less than great results and more blocking 
up 
> of the shadows (although perhaps with more tweaking it might 
work).  
> 
> Overall the supplied directions are wanting (still not sure how to 
> change from the supplied profiles as the program will not use 
other 
> profiles I have, possibly because it knows they were not made for 
the 
> RIP but I am not sure it is that smart).
> 
> Epson support for this product, although meaning well, was 
hampered 
> by a lack of a working knowledge.  They did follow-up and call 
back 
> with help for an install conflict problem I had.
> 
> The prints (matte black ink, Epson enhanced matte) are a bit warm 
but 
> not much. I like "colder" prints better but can easily live with 
the 
> image tone from the RIP. 
> 
> I think a good B&W solution should have come with the printer as 
they 
> marketed it that way.  To mentally ease the cost of the RIP one 
could 
> think of the pricing scheme of the new Epson 3200 scanner, one 
could 
> suggest that the 2200 as marketed is the "Standard Version" and 
for 
> $695 one that will do great color and OK B&W (probabably quite OK 
for 
> many people although perhaps not those on this group list).  
Adding 
> the RIP makes it the "2200 PRO" version for $895 and it will do 
much 
> better B&W.  WIth that logic, I am pretty happy with my $895 
purchase 
> and ability to use the same printer/inkset/paper for both color 
and 
> black and white prints.
> 
> I would like to hear from more folks that are using the Epson 2200 
> RIP for B&W (or even color but perhaps that would need to be on 
the 
> 2200 group list) as I bet the RIP can do more than I can get it to 
do 
> with my present knowledge.
> 
> Robert
> 
> 
>  
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel 
Staver" 
> <daniel@p...> wrote:
> > > From what I've read in the various forums the Epson RIP 
produces 
> a 
> > > warm B&W print as it seems to only use the black and light 
black 
> > > inks. There are also no toning options as far I can see.....