Digital BW, The Print

Thanks for the thoughtful response.  Much appreciated.
At 10:02 AM 11/30/03, you wrote:
>Derek
>
>I would add the following comment:  you don¹t need to make at this stage the
>definitive decision as to the best technology mix.  Personally, I would
>recommend an explorative and incremental approach.  It is not clear from
>your post as to whether you also have an interest in printing colour images
>in addition to B&W.  I will assume for now that you do.  The Epson printers
>mentioned (1280, 2100/2200, 7600 and 9600) are all fantastic printers for
>which a lot of non-OEM material is available (inks, drivers, RIPs etc).  I
>personally purchased the 2100 (mostly due to budget considerations) but
>might now consider the larger, new 4000 model.  Print size and cost are key
>considerations here.   I have never had any issues with the printer at all.
>In this forum there is much discussion re dedicated B&W printers.  I have no
>doubt that there are advantages to be had from dedicating a printer solely
>to B&W.  However, it is not necessary on day one.  Select a printer which
>best fits your cost/size matrix and work from there.  I am very happy with
>the colour images printed on my 2100 using the OEM Ultrachrome inks and the
>Epson driver but with correct coloursync setup and good profiles for my
>printer/media combinations.  I was not happy with the results for B&W though
>due to the often mentioned metamerism issues and so I invested time (and
>thanks particularly to Roy, no monetary cost) in deploying Quadtone RIP (I
>use a Mac).  I am now happy with my much improved B&W printing.  However,
>that¹s not to say that in the future I might not venture further eg using
>specialist B&W inks like the MIS Ultratones, or Imageprint to perhaps
>improve my colour work, or even purchasing another printer and dedicating
>one of the two to B&W.
>
>In the pursuit for the Holy Grail, many on this forum sometimes (or perhaps
>³particularly² lately) overlook the basic quest ­ getting started and having
>fun.  And digital is fun.  I have found a new vigour in my passion for
>photography by being able to explore the capabilities of PS and print my own
>work ­ and all for a very modest cost.  I am sure that if, or rather when, I
>purchase a top-of-line digital camera or MF digital back (one of the best
>things I have ever bought is the Canon Ixus ­ simply for the fun of taking
>fun pictures in a carefree and [incrementally] costless fashion) I will gain
>further vigour as the world of possibilities expands yet again.
>
>As with the wet darkroom ­ get started, explore, learn, add and become more
>³specialised² as your knowledge base demands and allows refinement of your
>techniques.
>
>Cheers
>
>Steve
>
>
>
>
>From: Alan Zinn <AZinn@netbox.com>
>Reply-To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
>Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2003 09:43:54 -0800
>To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Moving from Chemical to Digital
>
>At 09:53 PM 11/29/03 -0800, you wrote:
> >I have been doing chemical B & W photography for many years.  Trying hard
> >not to be a luddite I decided I needed to become open to digital
> >concepts.  I remain open.  Digital cameras have reached a point where I can
> >do most of the same kind of things I do with a traditional film
> >camera.  The advantage no film processing.  Now we get to the nub of my
> >dilemana.  I know I can make photoshop do magical things that will allow me
> >to replicate the kind of techniques I do in a darkroom.  The problem for me
> >seems to come at the printing stage.  I've been reading along with the many
> >thoughtful and highly technical experiments that folks discuss here.  As
> >near as I can understand what folks have experienced and what they are
> >doing the consensus is: You cannot replicate a chemical darkroom with a
> >traditional printer without tweaking many different aspects of inks, ink
> >jets etc.  As I read deeper I hear folks talking a lot about trials using
> >these inks that involve multiple cleaning of ink delivery jets.  If all of
> >this is true, I just cannot see myself switching from chemical to digital
> >at this time.
> >Am I reading things correctly?  I don't really enjoy mixing chemicals.  My
> >joy comes when, as a result of chemical mixing and the magic of the
> >projector I create something that hints at what I imagined.  Then I'm in
> >heaven.
> >Cleaning printer heads just doesn't do it for me.
> >So I guess my question is:  Is there a stock off the shelf printer with
> >stock off the shelf ink supply in nifty little plug in modules that will
> >allow me to come close to duplicating my dark room work assuming that I've
> >done a good job in the image capture and photoshop manipulation.
> >If the answer is no, I'm quite willing to go back to the dark room and wait.
> >Thanks for reading.
> >
> >
> >Derek Hamlet
> >Victoria, B.C.
> >592-8590
>
>Derek,
>
>First, a reminder that you are likely to see a lot more posts about
>problems with B/W printing than anything else. Many people have almost no
>problems with clogs, etc.
>
>Second, you are fortunate to be making the leap from the dark at a time
>when great advances in the craft have been made - see Clayton's comments a
>couple days ago.  You have at least three excellent and proven ways to test
>digital printing: Black only on a 1280 or 2200 printer,  Piezography - a
>turn-key process, or the Paul Roark (or similar) curves which take a little
>more savvy.  In each case there is a wealth of  expert help and opinion on
>this list, the Epson printer list, and the Pieziography list.
>
>Good luck,
>
>AZ
>
>
>
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Derek Hamlet
Victoria, B.C.
592-8590