Digital BW, The Print

Ergosoft recently came out with an upgrade to StudioPrint with a some
interesting developments for quad users.
Until recently, StudioPrint was very difficult if not impossible to
linearize with multiple light inks and variable dot. Variable dot
worked with with one light ink per color obviously (for color work),
but more partitioning was a problem. So quads, hexes, seps, etc. were
single dot size per ink. This worked beautifully, but created minor
limitations that few would notice...
There are some new controls and dither settings in v12 that literally
allow the user to select which of 3 dots sizes, at what percent, are
used, per ink. For multiple gray mono work that means per gray
(black). That takes a moment to get your head around.
Now, the very lightest gray can be brought in at the very smallest dot
size to begin with, and at the black end, the K ink can be finished
off at the largest dot size, allowing the maximum dmax available given
 media constraints.
Another resulting improvement- previously, under a loup, it was
possible to detect the dark gray coming in over the mid gray with
widely spaced darker dots. This essentially results in some minute
gray values represented less than optimally, and a loss of resolution
in low contrast detail within those particular grays.
Now, with very carefully chosen settings, that ink can be brought in
with a smaller dot, resulting in closer dot spacing, more detail, and
more represented shades of gray.
Needless to say, the amount of testing required to get this right is
daunting, I doubt many will go down this road. But the tools are there
for the insane. Using 100% of all 3 dot sizes in all 4 inks (quad)
will not work with the current built in partitioning algorithm, and
it's probably not necessary anyway.
Also, the availability of the largest dot at 100% K has brought back
the dmax I lost to v11s "distributed" function when using a double ink K.
I realize this post will be of interest to very few if any. These
improvements are slight to the naked eye, but any move toward a more
photographic output is significant to me, and the difference can seen.
So for me, without going to a 6 or 7 ink setup, v12 has allowed me to
improve output and remains a very interesting and evolving tool.
Tyler