Digital BW, The Print

Here's a postscript to the review linked in the quote below (only the 
link in my previous post is live):

>When I first published my Epson 4800 review a couple of days ago I 
>criticized Epson for the continuing poor quality of their Mac 
>printer driver. It has subsequently been brought to my attention 
>that the fault for this lies more heavily with Apple than with 
>Epson, so I removed that section from the review as being 
>counterproductive.
>
>I also have revisited the improvement in Dmax on Matte papers. My 
>initial comment was that it is not as noticeable as as with Glossy 
>papers, where the improvement is quite striking. On further 
>examination I must admit that I was too conservative in my initial 
>assessment. Blacks on matte paper are noticeably improved as well.
>
>The bottom line is that with the new K3 Epson printers one gets more 
>saturated colours, better Dmax, reduced bronzing and reduced 
>metamerism. All of these are good things. But with the 4800 these 
>come with a price, the lack of ability to change between glossy and 
>matte papers without a serious hit in lost ink. What Epson giveth, 
>Epson taketh away. But it is the best photographic printer - ever. I 
>wanted perfection - damnit.

That's from Michael Reichmann, the proprietor of Luminous Landscape.

With any luck, I guess the next updates/upgrades of our favorite 
RIP's will provide us with both better drivers and the black-only 
(BO) mode some of us very much want as an option?

Is the feasibility of the black-only (BO) mode enough in doubt to 
justify postponing the purchase of a 2400? If I had a 2100/2200, or 
maybe even an 1800, I think I'd be content to wait and see. But I 
don't, and I'm itchy.
--
Sam


><http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/printers/4800-1st.shtml>
>
>seems to me profoundly ambivalent about the new Epson printers,
>especially in re the 4800, as opposed to the 2400. Includes some
>interesting details about developments expected in the Imageprint RIP.
>--
>Sam

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