Digital BW, The Print

In a message dated 8/11/2005 11:16:15 AM Pacific Daylight Time,  
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com writes:

If you  really want to take things to the highest level, you should 
buy a high  quality RIP and get the other proprietary dithers that are 
available from  places like Wasatch, or Onyx, or Ergosoft... How about 
profiled BO through  a CMYK profile? You are only scratching the 
surface with  Qimage.
My point was mostly about the hardware, not the software. The only reason  I 
mentioned QImage is that it's a cheap solution to maximizing the qualities of  
the native Epson driver, which has some very fine ditherings, for  sure.
 
Of course you can spend that extra cash on a RIP, learn a whole new piece  of 
software and go through the extra hassle, and the endless  experiments for 
barely detectable differences? The law of diminishing  returns sets in pretty 
quick after a certain point. There is nothing wrong with  Epson dithering, and 
it's getting better all the time. They needed a lot of help  with the 3000, but 
the 4000 is a different animal altogether. The 4800 is only a  "super 4000" 
for glossy paper only anyhow.
 
I'm not talking using loupes here to find "different dithering,"  just making 
thousands of sellable 8x10's from a superior sheet feeder and hand's  off 
printing. I like the 4000 so well, I bought 2. If the QImage solution (which  
feeds the Epson driver) wasn't working, I would certainly not hesitate to spend  
whatever amount was needed. In my case, I'd rather upgrade my lenses or buy 
more  ink.
 
I tested the Onyx RIP against the Epson and I found the  Epson print 
indistinguishable under normal printing and viewing conditions after  printing some 
typical files of mine. For others it's a better solution, but you  would still 
need a 4000. I don't think they make $2,000 RIPs for $99 plastic  printers.
 
My original point is about a double standard where  people want to do "state 
of the art" without investing much of anything,  relative to what it used to 
cost. We have nothing to complain about when it  comes to price/performance 
ratio today. Life is good in here in  America.
 
With the Epson driver set at 2880 and fine detail and using really good  
profiles from a wide gamut color or B&W workflow, you can make prints that  are 
superior to lab prints. I have not complaints about any of this technology  
whatsoever and if I had to invest in a RIP (to satisfy different markets) I  would 
do it. Long live Epson.
 
Claude






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