Digital BW, The Print

> I've just started using this software and wanted to hear from others
 > what the advantages for printing b&w versus other methods. I use an
 > Epson 2200 and I normally print on Enhanced Matte, Premium Luster,and
 > Ilford Smooth Pearl papers. I use PS CS for all my b&w processing
 > using a combination of methods.

I think Diane has summarized it well in her response below.  The
alternatives to QTR are: (1) another (much more expensive) RIP; (2) black
only, which is fine if all you ever want to print is "neutral" black and
white but not good if you like a little variety, e.g. sepia, warm, cold,
etc.;  (3) one of the MIS inks and the Roark curves, also good when MIS gets
the inks right but they don't always get them right and the resulting odd
tones can drive you crazy trying figure out what's wrong until you learn
it's the inks, plus you don't have the variety of tones using Paul's curves
that you do with the QTR blends and you have to dedicate a printer to b&w;
(4) Piezo, which is expensive, requires a dedicated b&w printer, and also
limited in terms of different tones(I believe, I've never used Piezo); or
(5) Epson driver with UC inks, which means some unwanted color
tints/matamerism to your black and white prints.  There's probably something
I've left out but I think those are the basic alternatives to QTR.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diane Fields" <picnic@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 2:50 PM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Why Use QTR?



Well, I probably shouldn't answer this again as I just did answer it in the
Quadtone forum for you, but other new folks to QTR may like to know also.
What it offers to me--is a reasonably priced RIP for monotones that does
away with the metamerism that plagues prints done otherwise.  I have printed
b/w-montones for quite a number of years, have subbed off and on to this
list for several years also--and the alternatives were always fairly
expensive (RIPs) or required me to dedicate a printer to b/w and use 3rd
party inks/curves, etc.  I've contemplated doing this with my 1280 for
several years since I bought my 2200 but, in truth, procrastinated about it,
and when I resubbed to this list in late winter I discovered QTR--a
reasonably priced RIP.  I demoed it for several weeks and bought it.  I do
process in PS, softproof in PS, convert, print from QTR--and am quite happy
with my monotone prints.

I have just done a series of step wedges on 11 matte papers (some I just
ordered like Innova papers and others from sample packs I've had for awhile
or papers I use or have used).  This has helped a lot in giving me a
reference for the curve blends I'll use with which paper--and also clarified
for me what papers I really plan to use from now on (I do have a couple
other papers I don't have yet and will do the same for them).

Since I'm pretty much a newbie at QTR also, but not at b/w prints, I thought
I would just include my thoughts on it.

Diane

From: Steve
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 2:11 PM
  Subject: [Digital BW] Why Use QTR?



  I've just started using this software and wanted to hear from others
  what the advantages for printing b&w versus other methods. I use an
  Epson 2200 and I normally print on Enhanced Matte, Premium Luster,and
  Ilford Smooth Pearl papers. I use PS CS for all my b&w processing
  using a combination of methods.

  What does the QTR offer that can't be achieved using more
  conventional printing and processing? I'd like to hear your opinions.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




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