Digital BW, The Print

Paul-  Thanks for the paper suggestions.  I will look at them.  On 
the soft proof issue, which I have used for other workflow and like, 
I don't believe there's any way to use it with the Epson ABW driver.  
So that is why I "tuned" the driver for paper type.  Is an ICC 
printer profile or RIP really doing anything different from that?  Or 
are we back to the linearization issue?  While I realize that I have 
not linearized anything, over a number of images I find the 
correspondence between screen and print quite good--paper color and a 
reflective surface aside.  The highlights, shadows and grayscales 
seem about right on the screen (compared to the print) and give me a 
very good predictor of the print.  Of course, in 40 years I've never 
once printed a photograph and had that first print usable.  So I have 
that experience with the digital flow too.  Perhaps I'm just missing 
something, because my "flow" seems simplistic (probably downright 
useless) to most on the forum.

I tried your links, but they didn't seem to work.

Many thanks,
Walt

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> > ...
> > I started with a 2000P, which I found novel but unusable for 
serious
> > printing of anything...
> 
> With dedicated B&W inks it can make excellent B&W prints.  Among 
other
> things, it has one of the best matte paper dmaxs.  Since there are 
a lot of
> these sitting around gathering dust David Brooks (Shutterbug) asked 
me to
> tune a simple monotone inkset for one, which I did.  He seems quite 
pleased
> with it.  My "Readme" file on it is at
> http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/2000P-FS-Readme.htm.  Buying a used 
2000P is a
> good way for a person who wants 13" B&W to get going on a budget. 
> 
> 
> >... 
> >I've settled on the EEM and Velvet (the first for proofing and the 
> >second for printing)...
> >Hahnemuhle PR ... seemed ordinary to me ...
> > and I also had ... occassional, small white specks which were 
> >not printed.  I had this problem with no other papers I tried.
> 
> What some call "flaking" of the surface is quite common -- and a 
problem.
> As others have noted, it can be reduced by brushing (might leave 
markets) or
> blowing with compressed air before printing.  Sometimes this isn't 
enough. 
> 
> In general, the sensitivity of inkjet surfaces is a significant 
issue and
> problem.  I think Epson UltraSmooth (PremierArt Fine Art Hot Press 
appears
> to be the same coating) may be the best in this department and also 
in the
> fading area.  It also has the brightest non-OBA surface (and optical
> brighteners will "burn out" and make the paper appear to be 
yellowing).
> With older printers the dmax was slightly weak but acceptable.  
With the
> 4800 sample I've seen on PremierArt Hot Press 205 ("PA 205') -- 
which is a
> real bargain paper -- the dmax was very good.  So, you might 
consider trying
> this paper.  www.ITSupplies.com has the best prices I've seen for 
it.  See
> <http://www.itsupplies.com/cgi-
bin/itsupplies.storefront/42beea4202f8fae6274
> 0400180140675/Catalog/1518>
> 
> Sadly, PermaJet (same as Innova?) coating does not seem to do well 
with the
> new Epson printers.  For pre-2400 models, this line is near the top 
of my
> paper list.
> 
> >...
> > My first prints on the 2400 did not match the monitor...
> 
> That is typical with B&W printing.  Some of us use the Photoshop 
soft
> proofing procedure Photoshop provides.  I have the procedure 
written up at
> http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/Monitor-Profiling.htm.
> 
> Frankly, I'm surprised Epson set up a separate B&W procedure.  At 
some point
> the B&W and color workflows have to be integrated.  The amount of 
color
> pigments fed into the image should be seamless from pure carbon to 
high
> gamut color.  As such, I see the latest Epsons as a timid first 
step, but
> still, by integrating what the third party rips have been doing 
into the
> driver and adding a lighter gray, they've opened the market up to 
those who
> won't try third party solutions -- which, of course, is where the
> innovations have come from.
> 
> Good luck with your B&W printing and welcome to the forum.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com