Digital BW, The Print

Hi all,

A week ago I received from MIS the UT7 full ink set for my Epson 
2100 (with ebony black).
Before receiving this set I usually print with Epson UC standard 
inks and QTR on EEM paper.

As soon I printed a test image with UT7 and Roark Neutral EEM Curve 
(following the workflow) I noticed that the shadows areas are much 
lighter than the QTR ones. Indeed the overall image seems less 
contrasty then the QTR one.

In order to make some side by side comparison I decided to:

1)
Print a 21 step test pattern with QTR (QTR Gray Matte profile, UT7 
curve 50% cool and 50% warm).
2)
Print the same test pattern with PS8 and Roark Curves (EEM Neutral 
one).

According to my firs impression I noticed 2 things:

1) Linearity
QTR closes shadows too much (the last two step, 95% and 100%, are 
almost the same full black). To my eye it seems that from 55%-60% 
level the gray curve begins to go down much faster than the rest 
part.
The gray curve of the print made with PS8, Roark Curve and Epson 
Driver seems perfectly linear. The 95% and 100% steps are well 
different (mybe too much). To my tastes I would prefer a little more 
contrast and deeper shadows than this.

2) Dither pattern (seen with an enlarger lens)
QTR has much better dithering pattern. Dots are wery wel diffused 
without some visible pattern.
The print made with PS8, Roark Curve and Epson Driver shows too much 
aligned points (quite like a micro-banding). This is visible also to 
a naked eye.

In conclusion, I will go with the Epson Driver if there were a way 
to change dither algorithm of the Epson Driver. Is there a way to do 
this?
Or do I have to edit/recreate the QTR UT7 curves to correct their 
shadow closing problem and go with it?

Have you suggestions?
Have you also noticed those thinhs in your own tests?

Thanks in advance

--
Marco