Digital BW, The Print

Linda,

Welcome to the B&W forum.  

The 2400 is the perfect printer for what you're doing.  I just got one
myself.  

> ...
 
> 1) How can I be SURE I'm getting the best possible range of tones in my
> printing? Are there
> standard reference images I should try printing?

To be sure the print is adequately separating the B&W scale and doing so
smoothly, I test with "21-step" test files.  There are some posted on my web
site.

I then use a spectrophotometer (densitometer that also reads color values)
to check the dmax and other points on the test file.

 
> 2) With respect to the screen differences, are there things I should try
> doing other than
> creating a custom profile with my monaco system?


> 
> 3) For B/W printing on the R2400, what file preparation and printing
> approaches will be most fruitful? 

It mostly takes experience.  Be sure to use the levels adjustment to be sure
you're not wasting any of the scale (if you want full scale images).  With
B&W the density differences are all we have to work with.  So, I try to make
as good a use of it as the paper will allow.  You may notice we B&W printers
obsess over the dmax of our systems.


> 4) I'm assuming the archival quality of the various RC papers is probably
> about the same.

No, unfortunately, more RC papers have acidic interior papers that limit
their lives.  (Many are suspicious that the RC character of them is also a
problem, but that may be history.)  The Epson Premium glossy papers are the
major exception.  Wilhelm rates them at the same life he rates the best rag
papers.  Costco Kirkland glossy inkjet paper has a buffered interior paper
also, like the Epson Premium papers.  So, it may well be archival also.
It's also dirt cheap and gives an excellent image -- just 8x10.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com