Digital BW, The Print

Welcome, Don-

I'm NorCal, too and shooting Nikon digital... we should share a lot 
of the same issues <g>.

Let's see if I can hit a few  of your questions:

> 1. when you actually output are the files RGB or B&W / grayscale to 
> start with ?

Not sure... Assume they are which ever you set it at? In the Epson 
curves model (FS or VM using John or Paul's curves, it's RGB), with 
Piezography driver, it's GS

> 2. I'm sure I'll get various answers but what is the most used / 
> preferred paper

Probably Epson archival matte, though nobody admits it 'cuz they now 
have a watermark on the back that says "epson" and has a series of 
arrows to show you what direction to print it with (hey !!! anyone 
try printing it the WRONG WAY???)

Some other favorites are the Crane Museo, any Hahnemuhle paper, but 
especially Torchon and Photo Rag for the deep blacks, Somerset 
enhanced photo, some of the Cone papers at InkjetMall.com

You can order sample packs at reasonable prices from the various 
outlets...definitely worth the effort.


> 4. Is anyone using a reflective densitometer (xrite / gretag) to 
read 
> the black values ????

Not me...

> 5. The print exchange sounds great  -- how can I find out more 
about 
> it ???

I may be regretting it, but I just came very close to offering to 
host one... Stay tuned here... If there is some response/feedback in 
the forum as to size, theme, etc, I will post formal a invite over 
the weekend (after I've checked my own schedule tonight)

You'll enjoy this forum... I lurked for a couple of months before 
jumping in and I'm finding it very rewarding... No tie to any one 
brand or sponsor, some creative thinkers and some really good 
photographers jump in... Maybe I'll bump into you down the coast one 
of these days.

Tom O'Connell