Digital BW, The Print

Hello All,

Several things to report:

1) The sample Septone print on PR (from the Technical Print Exchange)
has now been on the window sill for 57 days (began August 28th),
getting increasing amounts of direct sunlight each day as we move into
fall (the lower sun angle gets under the south-facing awning for
longer periods each morning and afternoon), and still no sign of any
fading or color shifting.  Parts of the images are covered with pieces
of matt board, and I have just examined it carefully and can find no
changes in any zones.  

2) I received several replacement prints from Septone a few weeks ago
(for the Technical Print Report on my web site), but withheld any
public remarks at their request because they were working on something
new and didn't want to raise expectations prematurely.  However they
recently gave the ok to talk about it.  

The new prints are printed with several different curves,
demonstrating a variable contrast adjustment.  The shadow detail on
the original print was rated as "Good" instead of "Excellent" because
the curve, like many others, dropped off a bit too soon.  The new
Septone software (not released yet) has the ability to adjust the
contrast curve, and these new samples show several variations, which
means the user can choose whatever contrast best suites the image.  

The technical exchange print actually consists of four different
photos plus Paul's enhanced wedge, and the set of Septone prints I
received uses different curves which tailor the contrast to show each
image at its best.  It appears that it gives the same degree of
contrast control, maybe more, as we are used to in the darkroom.  

(Note: If this works the way it _looks_ like it will, it will be a
major change in the way we work, bringing us closer to the darkroom
experience of tailoring the output to match the image, rather than
tailoring the image to match the output device as we do now.  I don't
know anything about how it works (whether it's a continuously variable
slider or a selection of fixed contrast "grades", or how it relates to
paper profiles), but I'll be watching this carefully!)

In addition, the problem of the rippled paper, which seemed to
indicate a heavy ink load, was not present on the new prints.

3) They said that if all goes well they will release the new version
of the software in mid to late December, with no charge to existing
customers.

4) They said that early problems with leaking 2200 carts has been
solved.


I will be updating the Tech Print Report over the weekend.

Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm