Digital BW, The Print

Hi All,

Like many others, I spent a lot of time trying to get decent B&W 
output from my 2200 without serious metamerism and almost had given 
up.  Looked like ImagePrint was the only answer, but then I would 
have had to sell my car :-).  Then I discovered this group and 
started using the Black Only output (which is pretty good if you 
don't mind the dots and don't desire any toning).  While reading the 
archives, I noticed a couple of posts that referenced the Epson Gray 
Balancer software that shipped with the 2100, but not the USA 2200.  
Most folks indicated that it was a waste of time.  I had almost 
forgotten that I had a copy of the Gray Balancer software, so I 
started messing with it (as a last resort).

After a zillion hours of experimenting and a couple of trashcans 
full of Epson Enhanced Matte proofs, I can tell you that, for 
whatever reason (perhaps a lot of luck), I'm getting pretty darn 
good results using EEM paper, the standard 2200 enhanced matte/MK 
profiles, standard UC inks, and my newly configured Gray Balancer 
settings!  I'm seeing output with barely any hint of metamerism.  
I'm actually VERY pleased.  I'm a full time working photographer and 
my interest in B&W was mostly for my personal work.  Interesting 
enough, since inserting the Gray Balancer into my workflow, the 
color accuracy of my commercial COLOR prints is detectably better.  
The bottom line of all this, at least in my case,  is that the Gray 
Balancer software has brought new life to my 2200 and my workflow.  
By the way, in case anyone is interested, I put most of my effort in 
establishing a "neutral" tone by selecting values on the "4-point 
Gray Adjustment" based on "daylight" visual comparisons.  I wound up 
with values of 361, 251, 151, and 051, for my specific printer.  I 
doubt that these values would be applicable to other 2200's, but who 
knows, might be worth a try if you've got the software sitting in a 
folder somewhere on your computer.

Tony Bonanno