Digital BW, The Print

To condense it to the extreme:
Printers:
    Epson pigment printers --
        small format 1280 (discontinued), 2200 (discontinued), 2400, R1800
        large format 4800, 7800, 9800
    Epson dye printers--
        R200 series
Inks:
    Color
        Epson pigmented inks for 2200 -- Ultrachrome good, but expensive.
        Epson pigmented inks for new printers -- Ultrachrome K3
    Third party solutions -- MIS Eboni black replacement carts

Software (Mac)
    Photoshop CS2
    PhotoKit Sharpener http://www.pixelgenius.com/sharpener/index.html

Hardware
    Some kind of color management system (hardware and software) to
calibrate the monitor:
        Monaco Optix or EZColor http://www.xritephoto.com/product/optixxr/
        ColorVision Spyder http://www.colorvision.com/index_us.html
        Gretag Macbeth EyeOne http://usa.gretagmacbethstore.com/

You may also need a scanner to bring older film images into your system. The
Epson flatbeds (4990 Photo for example) do a good job with both
transparencies and reflective art.

If you have a lot of slides, the Nikon 5000ED is worth the investment.

That's it in a nutshell. If I was just starting out, I'd buy Photoshop, an
Epson 2400 and some Epson inks and paper to try it out. I'd use the Matte
Black rather than the PhotoBlack cart, and print on inexpensive paper, like
Enhanced Matte, which gives you decent results out of the box.

Jim
-- 
parkerparker :: design | photography
http://www.parkerparker.net



On 1/2/06 7:18 AM, "DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com"
<DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

> Subject: new to all of this
> 
> Now I'm sure this post has been exhausted - many times over- but I'm
> interested to 
> expanding my printing techniques.  I am a staff photographer for a large
> newspaper and 
> have gotten away from my fine art background- shooting mainly photojournalist
> images 
> for the past few years.  I want to create fine black and white digital prints,
> but I'm not sure 
> where to start.  There is a load of information out there but I'm having
> trouble digesting it
> all- I would appreciate help in condensing all that info.  If anyone has the
> time - I have a 
> few broad questions- What types of new printers are best used to create b&w
> images?  
> What inks do you prefer?  And  finally a little about the software needed (mac
> user).  I 
> know these are broad questions and very subjective- but any information would
> be greatly 
> apprenticed. Russ Powell