Digital BW, The Print

I realize this is going to sound crazy, but bear with me.  If you 
like printing on glossy/luster papers for the fine-art prints that 
you sell (I personally use matte papers for fine-art work that will 
be framed and reserve glossy/luster for situations where the prints 
will be handled unframed) and if you are bothered by the bronzing (as 
we all are), have you considered buying a couple of gloss optimizer 
cartridges for the R800, cracking them open, then coating your prints 
with the goo?  I actually tried this out of curiosity to see what the 
gloss op would do on matte papers and it looked horrific on Enhanced 
Matte (I didn't try it with any other matte papers).  Not aurprising 
since the stuff can only be used for glossy papers in the R800.  But 
since you're printing glossy anyway, it might be worth a shot 
provided you can figure a nice even way to apply it.

On the other hand, hey, if you're selling your work now, why change 
your workflow?  That said, I think you should at least calibrate your 
monitor to save you some time, ink, and paper doing trial and error 
to get your prints to match the monitor.  I have never calibrated my 
printer but with my calibrated monitors and accurate ppaper profiles, 
the print matches the screen 99% of the time.

Also, I prefer premium semi-matte to either premium glossy or premium 
luster.  The semi-matte still has a sheen, it shows slightly less 
bronzing than premium glossy, and it has less annoying surface 
texture than premium luster, which is kinda "pebbly."


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Timmermans" 
<zenphoto7@a...> wrote:
> 
> People are starting to buy my 13x19 prints for $200 to $250 a pop 
with
> alarming regularity. This is good.
> 
> What is bad is that I think my prints that look pretty good now 
could
> probably look a lot better if I was using better tools. Problem one 
is
> that all the prints come out much lighter than they look on the
> monitor. I had the same issue with my old 1280. I compensate by
> darkening the images prior to printing.
> 
> I have a 2200 and a 1280 (new but still in the box). I'm using stock
> epson inks. I'm using Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper.
> 
> I have no printer or monitor calibration software.
> 
> My questions..
> 
> Should I consider the printfix bundle that includes the Spyder2pro 
for
> $400 or $500
> 
> Should I use the Premium luster instead of the glossy or would you
> suggest other papers?
> 
> I'd like to try canvas paper. Is there one that works with the 
pigment
> inks that looks good and lasts?
> 
> BRONZING BRONZING BRONZING!!!! The 2200 hundred prints look great 
but
> only straight on. The bronzing is horrible. Is there a fix for this?
> 
> In addition to the product suggestions themselves any tips on best
> pricing sites would also be much appreciated. Atlex is one but they
> don't seem to have canvas paper.
> 
> Many thanks,
> 
> Tim