Digital BW, The Print

> ~nope, no PressReady needed on the 1200.
> 

Also not totally required on the 3000.  See my instructions for RGB
softproof method on Allen's site.  For the glossy paper this seems as good
as PressReady for me.

> ~I still haven't tried out PressReady on the
> 1200 since I like the Epson built in
> separation solution with the native free RGB
> driver.   It's best to try out the spectratones
> in a regular cart in the 1200 before
> proceeding with CIS units since I haven't
> run the various types of CIS units.  I still like
> the 3000 since it's so reliable in it's
> preformance and refilling is easy and
> verifiable.  

I previously tried a PressReady solution on the 1200 with a bunch of the
different ink tones and very very careful spectrophotometer measurements
with manual separation methods, etc.  The plain old RGB driver worked just
as well as any fancy manual separation method with Ilford glossy.  The 1200
already has what is essentially a multitone solution built into it so long
as you choose the right ink tones (as does any 6 color printer).  Only thing
PressReady can give you is a bit more control in the shadow region and that
is not really apparent with this inkset the way it is with the quady pigs.
PressReady will allow you to force the printer to lay down more ink which
might be of value on a watercolor paper but the 1200 dumps on lots the ink
with the RGB driver anyhow.

~thanks for the comments Martin.  if I get
time, perhaps I'll work on a more specific
solution for coated media on the 3000.
Now, I wonder what Dan Culbertson. has
been up to in this area?

I'm still considering the virtues of using the RGB driver with the 3000 with
the softproof RGB methodology.  Tyler B. pointed out to me that the
Backlight Film setting puts down more ink so I am not sure that a RIP is
really necessary with this inkset and its deeper blacks.   RGB driver is not
an option for me for pigment inksets since you really need that "rich black"
option that only a RIP can give.  But you can't beat that Epson dither with
a stick (or even with PressReady).  If I find the right watercolor or matte
paper that gives me the right texture and black I may just s-can PressReady
and CMYK methods (Sacrilege!!! -- don't tell Tyler!).   But using RGB curves
to control CMY ink channels is still a bit counterintuitive for me.  On the
other hand with 7000's dropping in price maybe I'll be looking at replacing
the 3000 with one of those and the plain old "send grayscale image to the
printer" option will be the ultimate solution in the end, just like on the
1200.  But that just seems too easy.....

Just got some Arches Brite White Hot Press that I hope to try out this
weekend.   Maybe this will be that just right gelatin watercolor? Test test
test test .....

Dan Culbertson
so many years, so little time