Digital BW, The Print

I have just read Paul Roark's thoughts on QTR and black-only inks. I 
have also just begun to be able to use QTR with my Epson 2200 (thanks 
to a couple of people on this forum), and have also just received an 
order of inks and cartridges from MIS to fit the 2200.  If I'm just 
printing b&w, I gather that Paul thinks the MIS inks would be the 
route to take. In doing that, is there any reason to print through 
QTR rather than the standard Epson drivers?  I do have an Epson C86 
which is currently using MIS inks, but assume that the greater number 
of cartridges in the 2200 will produce somewhat better (smoother?) 
tonalities.  Any thoughts?  Thanks,  Edward--- In 
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> > 
> > > 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 strongly encourage the development of affordable, competitive 
rips like
> QTR and IJC.  I think they and the Epson driver can make excellent 
prints,
> and are the competitive systems I now see as most important.
> 
> My interest is to convert my B&W negatives into the best, most 
archival
> prints I can, in the most efficient, easiest and cheapest way.  In 
some
> respects, less is more for me -- software issues are included.
> 
> For me -- and the decision as to what system is best is very much 
dependent
> on the circumstances and individual preferences -- Photoshop curves 
and the
> Epson driver are what I use.  I wish those curves could also run on 
the
> affordable rips, and I will continue to experiment with the rips.
> 
> 
> 
> Here are some of my thoughts as to the features I like best about 
the
> competing approaches -- and competition is a necessary element for 
me:
> 
> 
> Photoshop curves are the easiest for me to write, and I (and 
others) can use
> those curves with Photoshop, Picture Window, and PS Elements (if 
the curves
> are on layers).  My curves are not limited to a specific piece of 
software.
> 
> 
> The most important feature of QTR, IJC, and the other third party 
rips may
> be the ability to print metamerism-free B&W prints from the Epson
> UltraChrome inkset.  
> 
> (That said, I'm a B&W printer, not a color printer.  So, the UC 
inkset is of
> little interest.  The advantages of the dedicated B&W inksets, on 
the other
> hand, include having smoother highlights (having ink dilutions that 
are less
> than half the concentration of the UC LK); being more lightfast; 
being able
> to print on glossy and matte paper without changing the black ink; 
and lower
> cost, among others.)
> 
> For dedicated B&W inksets, the feature I think may be most 
important for
> these rips is the semi-automatic linearization capability for those 
who have
> and can use the equipment required.  
> 
> (For visual manipulation, a grayscale PS curve may be easier.  
These can be
> part of a curves layer set in PS.  In fact, the print can also be 
matched to
> standard monitor calibration with such a curve.)
> 
> 
> 
> This is not an exhaustive list of factors, but just the ones that 
currently
> strike me as most significant.  
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com