Digital BW, The Print

I just wanted to relay the success I have had with the black only 
printing technique.  I have always wanted to do Black and White from 
an inkjet printer.  I have never been happy with the results.  I was 
very skeptical when I heard about the BO print technique as descibed 
by Clayton Jones.  However, even if it did not work the initial ink 
cost of eboni ink was cheap compared to piezo.

I spared no expense in getting up and running with the right 
equipment.  Nikon coolscan V, epson 2200 printer.

I currently use a Leica M7 with 50mm 1.4 Lux and the 90mm Cron, and I 
started to develop my own film again.  I mainly use ilford fp4+ in 
xtol 1:3.  I tried 400 speed film but I mainly shoot pictures of my 
kids or landscape, and I did not want the extra grain.  I do all my 
own scanning with Vuescan software based on this article about 
scaning Black and White negatives:

http://www.shutterbug.net/features/0902sb_bw/index.html

I follow it exactly as recommended.  Post scan process takes about 20-
30 minutes to get a master proof (that includes levels, curves, 
dodging and burning).

I wish you could see the end results.  They are nothing short of 
breath taking.  I am making prints that I likely would never achieve 
in the Darkroom.  One particular print I just made of a Landscape has 
so much Luminace/definition/Actuance that everytime I pass by it I 
stop to admire it. The print draws me into it.  It reminds me of the 
reason I bought my Leica, and of the Black and White photography I 
have always strived for but could never quite reach.  I am far from 
an expert photographer.

I am posting this as a guide for others starting in BO printing for 
my workflow which I have found works extremely well for me.  It is 
entirely based on Clayton Jones BO printing articles.

I could post the picture on the net but it just lacks the true 
luminance that the Print reveals.

Btw, the new print of my little girl cannot even stand next to the 
other children's prints ( It is that good).  The other prints are 
dull comparisons, and some of them where professionally printed.  My 
wife has instructed my to remake the old prints with my new scanner 
and this new technique so they will be able to stand on the wall next 
to the new prints.

Thanks
Steve