Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, 
"kurttheaxe" <kurt@a...> wrote:
>   I just got off the phone with Epson earlier today and hit dead 
> ends about the possibility of getting a Grey Balancer for my 
2200.
> 
>   They only withheld this software (and cards) from the North 
> American and Japanese markets.  
> Gee- do you think they're trying to drive up their own paper 
sales?
> 
>   I've heard and read some very good things about this 
software... 
> also that it is compatible with the 2200 (even though it was 
made 
> for the European model -2100)
> 
>   If anybody knows where I can get one, (or if I can buy one off of 
> you), please let me know.  
> 
>   Also, if you've used the Grey Balancer I love to hear your 
opinion 
> on it.  I've only been able to read a fellow US'ers opinion.
> 
>   Also, if you have expierence with both the Grey Balancer with 
> UltraChrome inks vs. Septones, I'd love to hear about it too.
> 
>  thank you,
> 
>  Kurt

Kurt,

I tried the gray balancer and gave up on it.  It will only balance 
color for a single light source and then when viewed in a different 
light, I still get horrible metamerism.  

If you have a Mac:
I  tried OPM on my MAC this week.  It seems to work well but the 
profiles posted are mostly available for EEM paper and I want to 
use Velvet Fine Art or HPR.   It amazes me somewhat that 
people will go thru all of this trouble and then only print on a 
paper such as EEM (non archival).  Don't get me wrong, EEM is a 
nice paper and I use it all the time - for proofing.  But I would like 
to do exhibition prints on an acid-free, 100% cotton paper.

If you have a MAC, you can buy Ink Jet  Control SW for $199.  This 
will allow you to make your own profiles for OPM but I believe you 
also need a densitometer - thus more money.  The other 
drawback to OPM is that you can only use a USB connection to 
your printer.  So I had to disconnect my  long firewire cable, move 
the printer next to my computer and connect a short USB cable.  
OPM also requires that you  flatten your PS image and convert to 
a GS tif.

There is another free solution called QTR for MAC's but it 
requires OSX.  But I am not sure if there are profiles available for 
papers besides EEM.

I have not tried Septones and haven't seen much comment 
regarding it.  The sample I received from Inkjetgoodies looked 
beautiful.

Hope this helps,

Dave Gordon
http://www.davegordonphotography.com