Digital BW, The Print

Wendel  -
 
I suspect that, in spite of what we hear from some quarters, the majority of the people involved in this work share your opinion.  It certainly seems that a more constructive approach to the challenges and bugs in current software/hardware offerings is to share this information (in a professional form) with the hardware/software vendors.  Paul Roark approachs his part of this process in a very professional way.  That probably goes a long way toward helping with problems, as well as new products from MIS.  
 
It's hard to imagine any verndor having a positive response to someone that rants and raves, and complains about their products bing a 'ripoff'.  That probably gets one shut out pretty quickly.  As a software devloper, I know that is my response.  
 
Tom Baker

Wendel White <wendel@...> wrote:
I work on the east coast of the US near major metropolitan centers. There is
one company, in another state, over 3 hours drive that has qualified
technicians that will repair the processing machines in our darkroom. The
cost of our annual service contract is $6000 for two processors.

Adobe once made a RIP (color only) for desktop printers, no one bought it
(well I did) and they discontinued development. Which big companies are you
hoping will come to the rescue? I don't think Epson, Canon or HP believes
they are missing out on any market share that is worth their while (and I am
sure that they are pleased with their abilities to make BW prints.)

I print with a large format Epson printer and IP on a regular basis, the
results (which are different from darkroom prints, but that doesn't worry me
since I not trying pretend that my inkjet prints are analog silver prints)
are as reliable as working in the darkroom. Neither is easy to do well.

For all the difficulties, I happy to have companies like Cone, Colorbyte,
MIS, Lyson, and Sundance--if they don't make these products, nobody would.

Wendel



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