Digital BW, The Print

I'm using Epson Enhanced Matte paper.  In the Epson driver box I select 
Matte Paper - Heavyweight, Best Photo, Gamma 1.8 (2.2 is too dark, even 
though I had the impression that 2.2 was "normal" for a Windows machine) 
and Black Only.  I leave Brightness and Contrast at -0-, although I have 
come across one image which improved  bit with more brightness.  I can't 
see much difference whether Edge Smoothing is turned on or off.  I think I 
usually leave it on.

I have been reprinting 8x8 images that I worked up for photo books I did 
last Christmas for various family members.  The images were captured in 
color, usually as the largest JPEG files that the camera would 
save.  Processing was in Photoshop 7, including the filter Convert B&W Pro, 
which produces a monochrome image but one which remains an RGB file.  It is 
this file that is sent to the printer via QImage, my basic printing 
program.  ICC profiles are turned off in QImage, so only the C84 settings 
listed above are in effect (I believe.)

As to dots - yes, there are dots.  But interestingly (to me, as I was 
historically a fine grain/high resolution kind of guy in the wet darkroom) 
I don't find the dots particularly bothersome, particularly at a normal 
arm's length viewing distance.  And in some ways I think the C84 prints 
actually look a bit less "digital" than the smoother, higher resolution 
prints of the same files made with my Canon S9000 and Lyson Quad Black inks.

In any case, it won't cost you but a few cents to run some prints yourself 
and see how they look.  That's one of the major attractions of doing this 
all with Epson inks.

Cheers,
Kip

At 6/30/2004 04:13 AM +0000, you wrote:
>John,
>   Interesting post with Kip.
>1. What settimgs are you using ?
>2. Do you find a visible dot problem at 8x10 ?
>
>                    stuart