Digital BW, The Print

Hi Brad,

As you can tell, I'm really doing lots of my thinking out loud and 
doing all of my conversing in public, so you definitely have access 
to any replies I've received.  Beyond that, I'm pretty much checking 
out people's websites, checking out links, doing searches on the 
subject, browsing the archives, etc.  If you are still reading this 
thread, you'll see that I'm considering a 1280 and Ultra Tone inks to 
start my experiments, but this is so new to me I can't guarantee what 
I'll ultimately end up doing.  Plus, literally everyone else here has 
a more informed opinion than I do at this point, so I suggest you 
just stay tuned, do lots of homework, and ask questions once you know 
enough to ask good ones.  At least that's my plan.

Good luck (to both of us)!

Mike


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Brad Mol 
<bradmol99@y...> wrote:
> Hi Mike
> 
> I¹m also new to the digital world and am very ignorant to things 
here.
> I am also looking for the best B&W printer and thought that we 
could do this
> search together and see what we can come up with.
> I posted a similar notice asking those who have had experience to 
give me
> feedback as to what printer to use or buy, and what inks.
> I need help in this area and so far have not gotten any direct 
answer.
> Let me know your feedback and I will let you know mine.
> Best Regards..........Brad.
>  
> 
> 
> On 10/22/03 9:37 AM, "Mike" <mfractl@h...> wrote:
> 
> > 
> > First off, this is the first time I've posted here, so hello to
> > everyone.  I'm just, finally, making the switch from film to 
digital,
> > and an unexpected by-product of this shift is that I'm 
rediscovering
> > my love of B&W in the digital domain.  This certainly seems to be 
a
> > great group for me to check out, and I assure you all that I'll be
> > doing a number of searches through the archives to pick up tips, 
so
> > I'll attempt to avoid asking at least some of the questions that 
have
> > been asked numerous times before.  Nonetheless, there's one 
question
> > on my mind at the moment, and I thought I'd throw it out.
> > 
> > I've been reading the news about the upcoming Epson 4000, and I've
> > read that it's supposed to acheive a DMax of 2.1 on glossy media 
and
> > 1.69 on matte media.  Though I'm no expert on this subject yet, 
I've
> > read that the 2200/7600/9600, with the Ultrachromes, acheive a 
DMax
> > of 2.0 on glossy media and 1.69 on matte.  Obviously, this 
suggests a
> > higher DMax on glossy for the 4000.  And, considering that my
> > upcoming foray into digital B&W will involve a search for the best
> > DMax, I find this interesting.  (Though I don't know how a printer
> > using the same inks/media is supposed to acheive a higher DMax on
> > glossy media... maybe by mixing some Matte Black in with the Photo
> > Black, since both inks will be available at once?)
> > 
> > Obviously, I don't expect anyone to predict for me if the 4000 is
> > going to do better in this regard than the 2200/7600/9600, but I 
was
> > wondering if I could get a little input on the results people are
> > getting with the Ultrachromes or with inks they've substituted for
> > the Ultrachromes.  I've read about the MIS inks and the Lyson 
inks,
> > for example, and I'm trying to get a handle on what options 
provide
> > the highest DMax and how those options compare with results I'm 
used
> > to from the traditional, wet darkroom (though it's been a while 
since
> > my B&W days).
> > 
> > What I really need to do, I'm sure, is attempt to find 
opportunities
> > to actually look at people's work that uses different inks and
> > media.  But, inasmuch as my decision to go digital is only a few
> > weeks old, and considering that my renewed focus on B&W is only a 
few
> > days old, I really find myself in need of some pointers in the 
right
> > direction.  Like I said, really great DMax is going to be a big 
focus
> > of mine.  Which I'm sure is not uncommon.  But, anyway, I'm just
> > wondering if you folks are satisfied with the DMax you're getting
> > right now and what combination of inks & media have given the best
> > results for superior DMax.
> > 
> > I'm reluctant to admit my ignorance, but, though I used to get 
good
> > results in the darkroom, and though I used zone system techniques 
in
> > some of my B&W work, I don't really relate very well to DMax
> > figures.  I'm afraid to say that I don't really know how figures 
of
> > 1.69 or 2.0 or 2.1 compare to the results I was getting, so 
they're
> > really just abstract figures until I associate them with something
> > visual.  Even if I did once know DMax values for the blacks in 
some
> > of my old B&W prints, I'm afraid that knowledge has erroded over 
the
> > years.
> > 
> > Anyway, sorry for rambling, and thanks for your patience.  I'm 
pretty
> > excited about my 'rediscovery' of B&W, so I'm sure you'll see me 
here
> > more, and I really must find the time to make my way through much 
of
> > the group's archives.
> > 
> > Regards,
> > 
> > Mike
> > 
> > 
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