Digital BW, The Print

Mike,

Welcome.

>...
>... upcoming Epson 4000, .. I've read that it's supposed
>to acheive a DMax of 2.1 on glossy media and
>1.69 on matte media.  ...

That's about normal for most of the more expensive, modern Epson printers.
A 0.1 dmax difference is well within what you could get from a single
printer from time to time.  In comparing dmax's the densitometers, paper
selection and batch, shade of the paper under the paper you're reading all
would affect the readings.  As such, comparisons with what others have
measured might be misleading unless all the variables are held constant.

I think, realistically, the big differences are between matte and RC/glossy
papers, and between the pure pigment and the hybrid pigment-dye inks.  RC
papers get a better dmax.  More dye means higher dmax -- and more fading and
warm shifting.

The Epson Matte black is about as deep a pure pigment matte black as there
is, with MIS Eboni and PiezoTone Museum right there with it.  (Actually,
about 0.1 - 0.2 behind on average, but the cooler tone of the Eboni/museum
make them look darker, in my opinion.)  They are all very lightfast.  The
hybrid blacks are not in the same league if stability matters to you, but
the dmax's can be impressive.

In comparing the visual differences between various papers, I think the
densitometer readings can be misleading.  The glossy papers give very high
dmax readings, but the reflections in the real world often eliminate this
advantage.  A 1.65 matte inkjet print can look better than a 2+ glossy
pigmented print.  Under glass, if you are at 1.6 or above with the inkjet, I
doubt anyone is going to see any difference between the good silver print
and a matte inkjet print.  I hang them together and they look very similar.
Of course, if you use dye on an RC paper you're really looking at a
potentially huge dmax, but as the dmax gets higher, the eye's ability to
distinguish those shades decreases.  Above 2.0 with an RC paper or 1.65 with
a matte paper and the visual differences are not that great, in my opinion.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how good the matte papers look
with today's good pure pigment black.  It's a different look when not under
glass, but as an old silver printer, I've actually come to prefer the matte
look.  I really dislike the RC glossy look, and the semi-gloss or pearl
papers just don't make it either, in my view.  All the RC papers I've tried
have "bronzing" or other surface defects that are not very appealing.

Digital B&W is great fun and the technology is definitely ready for prime
time.  It will, of course, get better, but where we're at now is very
satisfying even for former darkroom printers.

Enjoy your journey.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com