Digital BW, The Print

Martin,

Same answer, it's a really tough question.  I don't know if I would pay 
just over $5000 for the 7000 setup over the 1160 (at about $1000 when 
you factor in software and bulk inks) just for the increase in print 
quality in the smaller sizes.  The printer itself is a rock solid 
workhorse and will certainly last longer, but that too is only one 
consideration.  I personally place a high value on quality, and never 
really feel satisfied until I'm producing the absolute best I can.  
Even if I can't afford it.  I think most people would probably not want 
to spend for it if they were only printing the same sizes as with the 
desktops.  But if there weren't folks out there, Leica wouldn't be 
selling so many cameras...

re:  the Lightjet tests.  I was planning an update.  I've been 
travelling and also wrapped up in the 7000, but I did print one awfully 
sharp negative that A&I produced last month just before  I headed out 
of town.  I'll get a scan of it up on the website.  They managed to 
pull in phenomenal sharpness and acceptable contrast (only required 1/2 
grade increase to match the original), all without having to go to a 
larger negative size.  And that is without any manipulation of the scan 
by me.  That was to be the next step, and still is, but I'm preparing 
for and exhibit and time is a little scarce.  The tests I've seen with 
LVT output (Antonis's prints) all required going up a format, in his 
case 6x7 to 4x5.  That worked quite well for him, however.

The only thing I'm concerned with is a slight increase in the presence 
of grain, and that is to be expected going grain on top of grain as 
this process dictates.  Could be solved by outputting the scans to 
TechPan, but what a pain that would be for the lab... Or, again, going 
up a format.

And, BTW, my first post about the imbalanced nature I was seeing in the 
list comments wasn't directed at you.  Sorry if you took it that way.  
I just get really tired of reading what appear to me to be rather 
transparent attempts to promote someone's product over another while 
playing fast and loose with the facts.  Tyler: I think you're correct 
in many of the things you have stated.

Best,
Phil
http://philbard.com 


> In my question to you, I was looking for a Piezo to Piezo comparison. 
> Assume you had no need at all for 24" output, would the quality 
> improvement in say an 11x14 Piezo from a desktop printer vs. an 11x14 
> Piezo from the 7000 be worth the total cost of the 7000 printer and 
> Piezo Pro system?
> 
> I realize that this is an impossible question in a way, because as an 
> artist it is pretty tough to put a price on the quality of the 
> finished product but it is the kind of decision we seem to have to 
> continually make in photography.
> 
> Thanks,
> Martin