Digital BW, The Print

>My only question is: are B&W prints from the 2400 better than a 2200 
>w/Bowhaus RIP (or 
>Image Print).  I only print in B&W as a hobbist.
>
>Martin

Martin

BW prints made on the Epson 2200, 2400, and 4800 using Rips or Epsons 
advanced Black and White solution all function in essentially the 
same way. The printer uses 2 to 3 different black inks with various 
dilutions. If you take a look at a step wedge (from 0% to 100% black)
created with these inks you will see an extremely warm profile that 
changes color throughout the density scale. Color inks are layed down 
to cool off the basic "warm-black" inks to give neutral B&W tones. 
That's the idea but it isn't so simple to implement. RIPS allow the 
user to fine tune the ink amounts and curves to adjust the tones for 
individual tastes.

I tried both QTR and the more expensive IJC-OPM RIP from BOWHAUS. 
Using their canned profiles, EPSON UC inks on "glossy RC type papers" 
I was astonished to see how bad the results were. After spending 
serious money on IJC-OPM I just couldn't believe the horrible bluish-
cyan tones in the prints. The nice thing about the RIPS, however, is 
that you can tweek the profiles and ink limits to fine tune the 
output for your printer and your own personal tastes. After learning 
to do that I was able to create my own profiles that worked 
with "some images." The only profiles that I found acceptable 
produced prints that were always somewhat warm toned. In my hands 
with a 2200, I was never able to get an acceptable "neutral print" 
using Ultrachrome inks that I could use to replace silver prints. I 
can say the same for my tests of Imageprint. 

The new K3 inks used in the 2200/4800 are not as warm toned as the 
older Ultrachrome inks. They are intrinsically easier to "cool off" 
to neutral. In addition, their bronzing and gloss differential 
characteristics are vastly improved over the ultrachrome inks. To my 
eye, the test prints of my own images made from an Epson 4800 in the 
advanced black and white mode are superior to that of a 4000 even 
when the 4000 is driven by Imageprint. The new K3 inks used in the 
4800 and the better dither patterns of this advanced printer lead to 
a smoother, more appealing B&W image with more neutral tones. I can't 
explain this scientifically but my own emotional response to prints 
with ultrachrome inks is "OK I can use this as a test print but I 
don't dare even give it away" With a 4800, my response is "its not 
absolutely perfect but I feel comfortable selling this print with my 
name on it." The gloss characteristics of the new K3 inks are really 
spectacular when compared to UC inks. When you look at a print with 
some rich dark tones you still see a smooth homogeneous gloss. This 
homogeneity is important to a viewers emotional response to the 
image. With ultrachrome inks the darkest tones lose gloss. This 
combined with the awfull bronzing give ultrachrome prints a less than 
satisfactory appeal on RC papers. K3 inks only begin to have gloss 
problems in the extreme highlights where the uninked paper surface 
begins to come through. 

To sum up: for my tastes a 2400/4800 print already beats a 
2200//Imageprint//QTR//IJC/OPM print. There is no contest to me. I am 
not knocking the RIPS. They are great software. I am just saying that 
the new K3 Epson printers are technologically superior and the older 
printers cannot offset this difference by using a RIP. When the RIPS 
support the 2400/4800 printers the gap will only widen. Remember that 
everthing I have said here is subjective and is only my opinion 
resulting from my own emotional responses. If you can you should test 
for yourself. QTR can be evaluated at no charge. The same used to be 
true for Imageprint on a MAC platform. I have not had good luck with 
MIS inks. But many on this site have had great success. You might see 
if those inks appeal to your tastes.

There is photographer on this list that I greatly respect named Joel 
Pickford. Quite a while back Joel talked about his 6 month testing of 
ultrachrome inks and RIPS. He stated that it was impossible to make 
what he considered to be "fine prints" with ultrachrome inks even 
with a RIP and he tried them all. At the time I laughed because I 
didn't believe him. Now after 4 months of my own testing I find that 
my tastes are similar to Joel's.  Joel also incited EPSON to step up 
to the plate and make a new printer for B&W printing using 3 black 
inks. Well Joel, Epson has done so. I would love to hear what you 
think of their product.