Digital BW, The Print

Ron,

I agree with you too... Just want to add a note on an unfair comparison: You 
are comparing, ImagePrint, an up-to-date software with the original piezo 
plug-in whose days of glory have long faded (along with those inks).

In my experience the plug in with the original profiles is something to be 
thrown out the window, not used with the Piezotones. Not everybody has the 
same experience as you and I and many people either don't get banding or 
don't care. But if you see what you say is micorbanding, it is most likely the 
result of using ancient profiles made on systems running the original piezo 
inks under who knows what condition. If that's the source of your  problem 
(and not head clogs), blame the profiles, not the 1280 or the Piezotones. 
When I sent inkjetmall my sample grayscale from my 1280/Selenium 
PT/PhotoRag complaining about the banding, I was told to try all their profiles 
until one worked. In other words, that system has become a joke - certainly by 
the standards we discuss printing here.

You also make a point about PT prints looking "dull". All else being equal (i.e. 
perfect profiles between the 2 systems and same paper) that should only 
mean a difference between dmax values. The two inksets you are comparing 
(UC vs PT) are capable of excellent prints, but each may not achieve its 
maximum black on the same papers. UC may favor EAM and PTs may favor 
PhotoRag for example. Still, I wouldn't call the difference night and day 
(unless you put glosy next to matte, which is a whole other issue).

In any case, other than being slow, the 1280/PT is capable of very fine bw 
prints that will look smoother than the 2200 with its OEM configuration. The 
trick is to use the correct profile. I make cutom profiles for all my printers using 
IJC, so in that respect, my comparisons are not dependent on differences 
between profiles.

Antonis







--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "harrisimages" 
<harris@s...> wrote:
> Antonis,
> 
> What you say is true....you will see a lot more highlight dots using 
> ImagePrint on a 2200 than when using a 1280 with PiezoTone inks.  
> But, there is a definite upside.  Prints with silvery tones will 
> jump off the page when hanging on a wall in ambient window light, 
> whereas the PiezoTone prints will look dull.  
> 
> Also, using the PiezographyBW driver with PiezoTone inks on my 1280 
> shows microbanding when viewed with a loupe.  Even the print samples 
> that inkjetmall sent me showed this banding.