Digital BW, The Print

Have to report that I've been really impressed with the results of my 
C84 and Photo K from the get-go. Pretty much stuck to the basics on my 
first set of prefilled carts (which BTW take a while to exhaust), with 
Epson Premium Glossy Photo and Semigloss Photo. I do a lot of low-key, 
window light stuff on Ilford Delta 3200, and am getting really nice 
blacks and shadow sep. Detail is a hair softer, but you'd have to look 
side-by-side or be into printing resolution charts to notice. I 
actually prefer the way it renders the 3200 grain, which can get a 
little crunchy in darkroom prints. Wonderful too that printing with 
high speed ON seems to carry no penalty whatsoever--I'm just now 
getting over the guilt.

The only thing IMO separating these papers from "real" prints is the 
whole bronzing/gloss differential issue. It is there if you're 
searching on PGP, less but still detectable on PSGP. But pleased that 
it seems to take some weird angles and an eager eye to really be struck 
by it--overall impression when holding one of these is "hey, nice 
print", not "what is THAT?" In my limited focus-grouping among 
friends/customers, you almost have to point it out for them to really 
notice it. Goal for me is still sellable, no-disclaimer-necessary 
prints, so will continue experimenting with sprayed glossy as well as 
the stack of matte sample packs I've got sitting here.

FWIW for C84 users, I'm noting with Photo K and these 2 papers that I 
have to dial contrast down a bit from Paul's C86 recs. My starting 
point is normally brightness +4, contrast -18, and even that is giving 
a little punch that isn't officially on screen.

In any case, this is a pretty great little printing setup. I'm noticing 
that the ability to bang out great prints so easily and affordably has 
given me renewed gusto for my B&W work.

Doug