Digital BW, The Print

* -----Original Message-----
* From: gendem [mailto:gendem@...] 
* Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2003 7:25 AM
* To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
* Subject: [Digital BW] What is the "Cone Driver"?
* 
* 
* Hi all, subject says it all.  What is the "Cone
* Driver" referred to on the MIS site, and where can I
* get it?  I'm about to order a 1280 cartridge for my
* photo 900 to see if it works (if it doesn't then I
* return the 900 and get a 1280), and it says I need a
* cone driver to make it work.  Thanks.
* 
The "Cone driver" is usually called the "Piezo plug-in". This was developed
by Sundance/R9 and marketed by ConeTech or Inkjetmall to be used in
conjunction with the original Sundance/Piezo inks.

It functions as an export plug-in used inside Photoshop. It requires an ink
set with specific densities of gray ink and provides profiles for about 50
different inkjet papers. It works with PiezoTone Warm, Cool, Selenium and
Carbon Sepia ink sets, MIS's Full Spectrum and Full Spectrum Neutral (not
the E set) and Sundance Warm and Neutral ink sets.

The business relationship between ConeTech and Sundance/R9 ended quite some
time ago. ConeTech has continues to sell the Piezo version of the plug-in
while working on a new software system that uses standard printer drivers
and printer profiles. As far as I know it is not yet been released for
shipment but if you buy a copy of the Piezo plug-in now they promise an copy
of the new software when it is released.

http://www.inkjetmall.com/index.html

In the meantime Sundance and R9, operating as bwguys.com, sell a newer
version of the plug-in called "Image Export BW" that supports a larger range
of papers and supports Mac OSX as well.

http://www.bwguys.com/

Both pieces of software sell for $150 which is a real bargain for the
friendly user interface and smooth tonal curves you get. If you want to go
this route I would be inclined to buy from bwguys since they appear to be
continuing to develop and support the product. $150 may sound like a lot but
you have to keep it in perspective. $150 is less than 35 sheets of 13x19
Photo Rag 308 gsm. The big cost in digital B&W printing is paper.

Martin Wesley
http://www.carolyn.cc/Guests/MartinWesley/pages/MW_01.html
http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html