Digital BW, The Print

I think the K3 inks are a considerable improvement on the K2.  Are they
perfect? No.  But a considerable improvement:  gloss differential is gone
except for where there is next-to-pure white in an image and the paper has a
different gloss to that of the ink; bronzing is dramatically reduced; and
colour saturation is improved on matte papers (but black dMax remains the
same as the MK ink has not changed and is weaker than MIS Eboni).  But there
are a lot of other factors that go into a printer choice.  The 4800 handles
media 4in wider than the 2400 yet Epson photo paper rolls are only 16in wide
and hence if you want to use that media then the gain is a mere 3in.  The
4800 is a robust, professional machine of undoubtedly superior build quality
to the consumer 2400 (and below) machines.  A 7800 would likely over greater
flexibility and true gain in terms of image size but is obviously more
expensive.  The Advanced B&W driver provides an easy to use solution for
many many B&W photographers.


> From: Mitch Alland <mitcha@...>
> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2005 15:45:25 -0000
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Looking for cooments on the Epson Pro 4800
> 
> Richard:
> 
>> I've been using the 4800 for about 5 weeks, having moved up from a 2200. So
>> far all of 
>> my printing has been monochrome using the Epson inks with Photo Black and
>> printing 
>> through the Advanced Black and White (ABW) feature of the Epson driver. I've
>> been 
>> extremely pleased with the output on Premium Semi Matte paper.
> 
> I have a 7600 and use it with the US inks, printing with Photo Black on
> Semi-Matte with 
> ImagePrint, but I would never consider selling these prints because of the
> bronzing, gloss 
> differential and the "veiled" look  of the blacks. My solution is to laminate
> the prints whicg 
> eliminates these problems and greatly increases the dmax and dynamic range.
> 
> I've been interested in the 7800, intially having heard such good things about
> the K3 inks, 
> but, now, someone very knowledgeable has stated:
> 
>>>> There really is very little difference between K2 and K3.  The bronzing is
>>>> improved but 
> the gloss differential is essentially the same as before.  Most users who have
> the machines 
> have said it's not eliminated so you still need to laminate.<<<
> 
> --Mitch/Bangkok