Digital BW, The Print

--- brinkker2000 <stevebrink@...> wrote:
Hi Joe, 
Just curious how do you plan to print B&W with your
4000...?  The UltraTone B&W inks I understand make
good quality B&W ...
Steve 

Steve,
I've been trying some prints with the 4000.  Color is
gorgeous!  But so was my 2200 color printing. I can't
see that the 4000 produces "better" color prints even
tho it is alleged by Epson to do so.  But I wanted
16x20 prints and so the 4000.  One ice thing about the
4000: my first color print was 16 1/2 by 24! I took
that first print down to my camera store which has 
some knowledgeable photographers and they were very
impressed.  Now in comparison: my B@W on my 2200 was
very satisfying as long as I did Black Only printing. 
When I used all the inks on the 2200 the results were
unsatisfactory.  My 1280, on the other hand, produces
the most neutral B@W. of any of the printers using a
CFS system from MIS and using their ultrachrome hex
inks. As for the 4000, the B@W prints I have made so
far have exhibited the following characteristics: 
Using the Color/BW setting, the B@W prints produced
have a very faint color cast to them.  It is so faint
that if I hold the print up without comparison to
other prints its looks perfectly neutral.  But when
juxtiposed with a true neutral print it looks very
remotely majenta. I was reluctant to use the word
"majenta" because that word conveys memories to me of
numerous struggles with my other printers with that
tone.  You almost can't see it but it's there.  Now,
using the Black only setting, the 4000 produces the
finest results. No metamerism and no tint.  I took
prints made this way and held them alongside eleven
large silver prints hanging on my walls and my
conclusion was that they can compete without blushing.
 I also looked at the print in daylight, florescent,
halogen, and tungsten.  I couldn\ufffdt see any metamerism.
 It might be there but I can\ufffdt see a sign of it.
Having owned the 4000 only a few days, my feeling so
far is I'm impressed.  I know that much lies ahead as
some really excellent printers who know a whole lot
more than I do about digital printing will be working
with the machine and different workflows, inks, etc.,
and working any kinks out for the rest of us who are
no so well-informed.  I look forward to their imput
with happy expectation.  Meanwhile, I can say that out
of the box, the 4000 has exceeded my expectations in
every way.  Please feel free to email me anytime.
Joe D.


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