Digital BW, The Print

> From: Paul Roark <paul.roark@...>

> 
> Steve,
> 
>  
>> If you are using the test strips I sent they were definitely
>> done in Adv B&W mode...
> 
> Yes, these are scans from your EEM "N" test strip.  I might add that I think
> the test strips look very good.
> 
> My initial surprise from your test strips was that the 4800 produced such a
> good dmax on EEM and PremierArt 205 (much better than my 2200), yet the dmax
> on Permajet Alpha (same coating as Innova from what I can tell) was rather
> weak.  Perhaps the dither pattern is different and is the cause of this.  At
> any rate, Epson has clearly "fixed" most of the dmax problems of the 4000,
> and the prints from any reasonable viewing distance look very good.

So was I (as I have a bunch of this paper!).  I tried a number of different
paper settings - EEM, ESVE and Ultrasmooth - and the differences were not
material (L*=18.4 was the best fully dried on the paper you sent ie a dMax
of 1.58).

One thing, though.  If I recall correctly you were very specific about
printing on the convex side of the paper.  I note that Permajet instructs
people to print on the concave side.  At the time I thought it was odd but
followed your instructions.  When I have MK loaded again I will try some of
the Alpha paper I have here.

Steve Gledhill showed me some prints on Permajet Omega.  I loved the look of
that paper and I am going to try to find a pack - hopefully the dMax will be
better than the Alpha.




> 
>> The fade tests will be key.
> 
> Yes, but I'm not sure we'll pick up the top 10%, since the lightest patch I
> have in the abbreviated fade test strips is 25%.  Could you send me a
> standard 21-step test strip -- or just the 10% patch from such -- printed on
> EAM/EEM in the neutral Advanced B&W mode?  I'll use the same paper to print
> a 10% patch from UT7 (standard and with the UT-FSN-Y option).  That might
> tell us how much the color highlights are going to affect the 4800 print
> permanence.  I might be able to put the ramp in the fader, but a specific,
> solid patch is more likely to be give better data.


Sue.  I don't have MK ink loaded at the moment but when I do I will make the
print and send it off.