Digital BW, The Print

Thanks for the reply.  I too like the surface a lot, but am having 
some problems.  The blacks simply lack density (I printed out 
greyscale ramps at different settings) and with the method you 
describe get fairly close except that the blacks also seem to suffer 
from banding.  I don't know if it's because this paper is cut down 
from a roll into 4x6 sheets and the paper is curved, but it really 
looks bad compared to the Epson Premium Glossy paper.  Realigning 
the paper doesn't seem to help.

I'm using SRGB or Adobe RGB, which are gamma 2.2 spaces I believe.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "vmixer42" 
<geoffsm@...> wrote:
>
> Roger,
> 
> I agree ICCs are the way to go, I'm getting better results with 
them than without them, but 
> I'm also getting reasonably good results with this paper (similar 
situation to yours I expect, cut down to letter size for use with an 
R220 and MIS inks) using no ICC and 'Print 
> with Preview' in Photoshop CS2.
> 
> I set the paper type to Premium Semigloss (which seems the closest 
in look of the other Epson papers to this paper), gamma at 2.2 (I 
use Gray Gamma 2.2 as my working space in 
> Photoshop) and brightness -1, contrast +1.  Depending on the 
image, I'll take the 
> maximum white value down to something like 248 or 245 using levels 
in PS just prior to 
> printing to minimize gloss differential vs. paper white.
> 
> Images with large areas of black seem to print well and the blacks 
look good (I'd say PSG 
> printed using Paul's ICC probably gets a better dmax, but I've no 
way to verify this).  I like 
> the surface quality of this paper very much, just enough sheen to 
make the blacks look 
> "lickable" (for lack of a better word), but not enough to distract 
overly with sparkles and 
> reflections (which I find the case with, e.g., Premium Luster).  
Reminds me of the look of 
> well-done photo books from Phaidon, such as Magnum Degrees or 
Elliot Erwitt's Snaps.
>