Digital BW, The Print

While observing and fondling the "working prototype" of the 4000 
at PhotoPlus Expo (didn't win one at the drawing yesterday - 
maybe better luck today), I pressed the main Epson rep about 
doing *serious* b/w with it, versus, say, a 2200 or 7600. He 
indicated that, for "serious black-and-white print production", 
you'll still need a third-party RIP such as IP (ugh...guess how 
much IP for the 4000 is going to cost?) or the like. No Epson 
software solution or "improved" driver was mentioned - if one did 
exist, I'd imagine they'd be eager to let it be known.

(As an aside: the 4000 is referred to as a "desktop" printer, but 
you'd better have a J. Paul Getty-class desk - it's narrower than a 
7600, but seems *deeper*, and weighs in at a little under 90lbs. 
Solidly built, though - you should see the spindle for paper rolls!)

And, given the paucity of b/w prints on display at the Expo, I still 
get that Rodney Dangerfield vibe about digital b/w (the fact that 
I'm a dedicated film shooter didn't help matters, either).

- Barrett

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "James 
Sims" <james@l...> wrote:
> Here is an excerpt from the epson site that makes some 
subtle 
> distinction on the suitibility of these two printers for B & W 
> printing...
> 
> 4000
> Professional Level Black & White Photographic Printing1 
> *   Produces a truly consistent image with little color crossover 
or 
> colorcasts 
> *   Reduced metamerism on 7-color black & white prints 
> *   Depending upon media, produces a black D-max up to 2.1 
> *   Produces sellable quality neutral or toned black and white 
prints
> 
> 7600
> Professional Level Black and White Photographic Printing
> *   Produces a truly consistent image with no color "crossover" 
or 
> color casts. 
> *   Able to produce neutral or toned black and white prints to 
> satisfy demanding photographers. 
> *   Depending upon the media used, you can produce a black 
D-max up 
> to 2.0.
> 
> Draw your own conclusions.... I personally believe that these 
subtle 
> distinctions in Epson's product literature indicates a difference, 
> for some reason, in the B & W printing quality of these two 
printers.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> James Sims
> http://www.jamessims.com