Digital BW, The Print

Johnny and all,

UT2 and Roark's curves are quite good.  If you follow
Paul's directions for the curves, you will be very
happy with the results.

The inkset alone (printed without curves or sliders)
is simply beautiful as it prints neutral but slightly
warm.  It complements BO/Eboni prints quite nicely. 
It truly is an "easy" solution.

I encourage everyone with a 1280 to give UT2 a try due
to it's flexibility.  You can achieve wonderful
results without effort, and for simple toning you can
adjust the sliders when printing.  This is a great
benefit for those who are accustomed to toning and
using extended darkroom controls for print color.

Compare this with a full spectrum or a quad based
inkset.  You are stuck with one printing tone unless
you change papers.  Even then the options were a bit
small.

For greater toning options or printing with carbon
inks only, you can utilize Paul's curves with Mac and
PC platforms; or Quadtone RIP if you are using a Mac.

I have had little problems with UT2.  Paul has been
extremely helpful whenever I have needed a question
answered - even though it is not his job to help us. 
Roy's QTR is one of the best printing solutions I have
ever used (and I used the original Piezo driver) and
he is very helpful to everyone on this list as well
with printing advise.  

Considering the extended printing options available
with UltraTone2, you really don't need anything else.

Don




--- Johnny Eades <jeades1@...> wrote:
> 
> Hello Don,
> 
> I'm using the 1280 too but use WinXP and Photoshop
> CS. I have played 
> for a couple of years with Linux, but always seem to
> come back to XP 
> because most of the programs I use daily are there.
> The workaround 
> turned out to be very good and I wish I could afford
> the Piezotone 
> inks. I had the plugin for PiezoBW and used MIS full
> Spectrum 
> i\Neutral inks with it and it looked pretty good to.
> I guess I'm jus 
> an experimenter at heart, and I wish my pockets were
> deep enough to 
> pursue each one further. I use Black Only printing
> with MIS Eboni ink 
> and can make it jump through hoops. I now can get
> true WYSIWYG prints 
> with it. I'm very critical of the lower values in my
> images. I want 
> them to have pregnant shadows like Ansel Adams'
> images. I can wish 
> can't I? Don't we all? Well when my ink runs out I
> may try the UT2 
> and Paul's curves. 
> 
> Your friend in Photography,
> 
> Johnny Eades
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com,
> "D. Hill" 
> <hill14701@y...> wrote:
> > Johnny,
> > 
> > It is too bad that your ICC piezo system requires
> > workarounds instead of working correctly out of
> the
> > box.  One only has to peruse the piezography 3000
> list
> > to see the problems inherent in the current
> system.
> > 
> > I can't remember if you are using a 1280 - but if
> you
> > are in addition to using a Mac running OSX
> Panther;
> > the ICC Piezography isn't a strong choice right
> now -
> > plus the fact that you've lost so much trying to
> get
> > it right.
> > 
> > I considered purchasing the ICC system, as I found
> the
> > R9 driver to be superb.  However, as I am running
> > panther with a 1280 - it really needs to work
> > correctly without workarounds when purchased to
> > warrant the high cost of ownership.
> > 
> > In the interim, I have found that the 1280 and UT2
> is
> > superior to any other current B&W solution. 
> Comparing
> > the dither of QTR against the R9/Piezography
> driver, I
> > found QTR to be superior in all respects as far as
> > smooth tones and "dotlessness". 
> > 
> > If you are running a mac and need your system to
> work,
> > consider using QTR and UT2.  Just as simple as BO,
> and
> > the results are stunning.  The flexibility of the
> > tones as well as the superior dither amount to an
> > amazing solution.
> > 
> > Don
> > 
> > --- Johnny Eades <jeades1@s...> wrote:
> > > Hello fellow photographers,
> > > 
> > > This note comes on a happier note than the other
> I
> > > posted. I found a 
> > > solution to the middle tone crisis I found
> myself
> > > in. Instead of 
> > > assigning the MODE of Gray Gamma 1.8, I used 20%
> dot
> > > gain. I did use 
> > > the proof of Epson Heavyweight matte (piezo's
> ICC
> > > profile), and 
> > > making the print options I chose custom and
> assigned
> > > the paper as 
> > > Epson heavyweight matte where Piezo ICC had
> chosen
> > > Ink jet photo 
> > > quality paper. I also gave it the print space
> the
> > > same as the proof 
> > > profile of Piezo's ICC.I can't explain why it
> works,
> > > but the image 
> > > looks good. This time I used an image rather
> than
> > > the grayscale. The 
> > > image has a full range and I can relate to that
> > > better. I just went 
> > > back and printed the same image using PiezoBW
> ICC
> > > settings and got 
> > > different results, with the middle tones being
> alike
> > > thus making the 
> > > image look posterized in those areas containing
> the
> > > middle tones. I 
> > > can't explain it either!!! The only drawback now
> is
> > > that I've used 
> > > upfrom 33% to 56% of my inkset and don't feel I
> can
> > > justify buying 
> > > more of this ink, so I guess it's back to BO
> till I
> > > can save up some 
> > > money for the Piexo inks or maybe MIS will make
> > > some. I sent them a 
> > > note asking that and they said they were in the
> > > works but no timeline 
> > > for release yet. Their inks are more in line
> with my
> > > budges of $0.00 
> > > than Piezo of $84.00 for the two carts for my
> > > printer. Just wanted to 
> > > touch base and let you all know that some
> procedures
> > > just aren't 
> > > carved in stone and a lot of ezperimentation may
> re
> > > needed to get 
> > > passable results. All I can say is I sure am
> glad I
> > > don't do this for 
> > > a living. I'd starve to death before I let one
> print
> > > go out the door. 
> > > Maybe I'm my own worst critic.
> > > 
> > > Your less frustrated friend in Photography.
> > > 
> > > Johnny Eades
> > 
> > 
> > __________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > Yahoo! Search - Find what you're looking for
> faster
> > http://search.yahoo.com
> 
> 


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