Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, hogarth@... wrote:
>
> So... v12 doesn't have a working algorithm to pick which size dot to
use 
> for each ink then? I would have thought that this is part of what you 
> pay the big bucks for. This information doesn't make me want to lay out 
> the money for the upgrade.

Bruce, I'm not absolutely positive I understand what you mean by such
an algorithm but if I do, I think it would be extraordinarily complex.
It would be dependant on the nature of the particular ink, and the
particular media. There is obvioulsy a built in algorithm that
transitions from one dot size to the next, probably based on Epsons
own. You can control which dot size or sizes to use and how much of
each, per ink. But after playing with this a bit, I can't imagine how
it could be automated. Too many things have to be seen to decide how
to proceed, and for mono inks, I'm seeing no need for the larger dot
sizes at all in the light inks. In fact some media won't handle it.
I recall a thread some time ago, Roy and a few others were talking
about the difficulty of partitioning and linearizing multiple K inks
along with variable dot. I think that's one reason the K7s are best
used with a 2880 set up. It's only one dot size, the smallest, making
so many inks easier to deal with. Also, with so many inks dithering in
and out, I don't see why one would even need variable dot.
For those less masochistic than I, the standard setup without variable
dots works very well, as you know, and the old versions do that just
fine. One step beyond that in v12 would be to set the K to open to the
large dot size, and maybe the lightest ink start with the smallest,
and gain some advantage there from the new feature. Other than
relinearizing, not much tweaking there.

> Any idea how your tweaked quad output would compare to non-tweaked hex- 
> or sep-tone output in terms of print quality? In other words, if I have 
> a hex-tone set available, should I use that rather than going through 
> the pain and effort of tweaking the RIP for quads?

Though I have buried my nose in some K7 output and am very impressed,
I have none here now for direct comparison. I don't intend to switch
to it so having it around taunting me would not be healthy.
I can say this is a step up for quads, subtle though. I sent the
tweaked dot setup to a very experienced pro friend, and he said he
made the best quad print he's ever made with it. Would most people see
that difference, or place a value on it? I think there is no beating
K7 output for neutral smooth B&W artifact free digital printing on art
papers that I have seen. I would not expect v12 quads with tweaked
dots to hold up to K7 under a loup. Without a loup, I don't know. I
need variable hues, so other considerations come to play.
I needed v12 for 9800 color, so had to get it anyway. Basically, I'm
reporting on miniscul obscure issues of interest to me. I hope it
didn't sound like an ad for the new version.
Both Roy and John Dean have working K6 setups right now, I think they
could say more about that quality.
Too bad we are all so far aprt, bringing everyone together with their
print and problems would be very informative.
Tyler