Digital BW, The Print

I had the same problem with my 1160 and FS inks and the cone plug in. I've fixed it 
by switching to Quadtone RIP and making my own curves. The cone driver is just not 
accurate enough for skin tones from my experience.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "petroscans" <chris@p...> 
wrote:
> I've been trying to figure this out; maybe someone can help:
> 
> Mostly I shoot/print still life, landscapes, other inanimate 
> objects.  I've been printing with an Epson 1280 using MIS Full 
> Spectrum inks with the ConeTech Piezography driver for a year now.  
> Terrific results on everything until now.
> 
> I got suckered into doing some student photos at a local private 
> school.  Made the exposures on 35mm TMax 400.  Scan with Nikon Super 
> Coolscan 4000ED.  Print as described above.
> 
> I've noticed some, not all, skin tones get really mottled or 
> posterized in the prints.  Several of the girls have large splotches 
> around eyes and nose.  Also, arms and hands seem to be common spots 
> for this to occur.  The mottling seems to occur in 30-40% grays, but 
> the print darkens them up with the splotching.
> 
> I've tried:  Nozzle check with Head Cleaning (All A-Okay);
> Printing a test gradient from 100% to 0% Gray--looks great!
> I rescanned a couple problem images at 16bit and the problem was 
> still there in the prints.
> 
> Is it possible to make Curves adjustments that look Fine on screen 
> (even at 100%) but contain too radical of shifts for the Piezography 
> to handle?  
> 
> Any other suggestions?  Help?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Chris
> http://wwww.petroscans.com