Digital BW, The Print

Wendell,

IP doesn't give you the built in tools for setting ink limits and 
linearization (like a 'real' full featured RIP does).  I've never had 
much success with the ink sliders in IP.  At the price, they should 
provide a full toolset, but they don't.  To me, it isn't worth the 
trouble.  I wasted a year and tons of paper and ink on it.  Fair 
results, but nothing to crow about.

I'll compare my Epson custom profiles and prints to IP canned or 
custom profiles and prints any day.  No comparison.  On some papers, 
the results will be comparable, (if the paper happens to fall in the 
sweet spot of IP's preset ink limits), but on most papers I have 
tested, the Epson driver will win hands down.

Additionally, the driver understands BPC, and will print InDesign and 
Illustrator files directly, without the need to convert to PDF or 
postscript.  And the driver comes with the printer at no extra 
charge.  With IP, you have to pay a full license fee for every 
printer model you use with it.  Add another printer model, and you 
have to buy another full license.  

If you find you can get superior profiles using IP after asjusting 
their ink sliders, please share your results.  I'd be very surprised 
if you did, but I will be glad to be proven wrong.

Regards, Lou

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Wendel White 
<wendel@b...> wrote:
>
> Sorry if I missed something but I have a question. Are you saying 
that if
> you go into the "Ink Limit" dialogue in IP that it doesn't work or 
that it
> refers to some else?
> 
> Wendel
> 
> > 
> > Total agreement!  I'd even go further than that.  IP uses a "one 
size
> > fits all" approach that hard codes ink limits and linearization to
> > the inkset, so you get one choice, period.  If that works for your
> > paper, great.  If not, too bad.  Since papers can vary quite a bit
> > from one to the other, this approach is destined to give mediocre
> > results on many papers.
> > 
> > For that reason, the Epson driver usually gives better Dmax,
> > saturation and color gamut than IP, because at least you have a
> > choice of paper settings, ink density slider, etc., which allow 
your
> > to change the amount of ink hitting the sheet  I have no problem
> > regularly blowing IP off the map with the Epson driver and custom
> > profiles.  
> > 
> > IP is simple, easy, and has some nice layout capabilities, and
> > gives "pleasing" color out of the box, but falls short of its
> > claims.  My copy is never used any more.  I tried to make it sing 
for
> > a year, but it's tone deaf.
> > 
> > Lou
>