Digital BW, The Print

I apologize for leaving the entire post intact.  I am unable to delete portions of the text--only all or nothing.  I'm going to check and see if choosing one of the 2 formats on the group page is causing this.

I do understand the grey ink thing---but the proof will probably be in the pudding, as they say.  I plan to wait and see.  I would like to replace my 2200 and had only considered the 2400 until the last week (I do not need a larger format printer so the Canon is not in the ballgame and their A3 printer seems way off in the future at this point).  Now I print monos with the 2200 and QTR.  My concern is metamerism primarily as I print on matte papers mostly.  What I would like is to be able to print a toned mono image directly from PS, matching my calibrated monitor and considering paper (using paper profiles)--basically in RGB I guess.    That doesn't appear to be possible with any of the printers at this point.  If I go with the 2400 I will tone my prints via their ABW driver--but this may be closer than using QTR I guess--but I'm not sure.  I wish there was some way to determine this without buying the printer and trying for myself.    I'm not interested in a neutral gray, but a toned print--but I would prefer its toned as I choose--not what a driver chooses.  That being said, QTR is a terrific product.  I have no interest in trying to create my own profiles/curves though, so I'm limited in that regard to what is available from others or QTR itself.  


I'm in no hurry--so I'm waiting to see more reviews and some information from those printing with it--esp. those that have been 2200 or 2400 users in the past.

Diane

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: CDTobie@... 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 4:41 PM
  Subject: Re: [Digital BW] HP Photosmart Pro B9180 review at LL



  In a message dated 9/13/06 4:21:46 PM, gudstrand.list@... writes:

  > All the early reviews of this printer that I have seen have
  > consistently stated that the 9180 delivers exceptional B&W prints
  > superior to those from the Epson.
  > 

  Early reviews are from those with close connections, who must speak very 
  carefully, so fuller info always must await other critics.

  >   That you don't need to make a bunch
  > of adjustments seems to me to be a plus.
  > 
  Let me say this again: if two papers print decidely warmer and cooler than 
  one another, a non-adjustable system cannot be neutral on both, and is 
  probably not very close to neutral on either. Some form of control is required.
  > 
  > One other thing, the 9180 uses three inks for black and white; a photo
  > black, a matte black and a light gray.
  > 
  One gray... as we've been bandying about all day.

  >   This printer is just now
  > shipping so we should start seeing some first hand reports.  From
  > early reports though this is the printer to beat when it comes to B&W.
  > 
  Nothing is the printer to beat until its released and tested. At the moment 
  the Canon iPF5000 is the "out there" B&W printer to beat, followed closely by 
  the Epson K3 printers.
  > 
  > Neil Snape has extensive experience with this printer and has posted a
  > review at his site.
  > 
  Neil is a friend; I look forward to seeing him at Photokina, along with 
  Harald Johnson, both of whom I expect to see working in the HP booth. But guys not 
  working the HP booth will need to weigh in as well.

  >   He frequents the printing forum at dpreview and
  > promptly answers most queries about this printer. 
  > 
  Neil wrote: "The B&W image quality on fine art media is as good or better in 
  some ways than all the competitors. They are all different, all good. It's the 
  character that will make you like one over the other.
  What I like about the B&W on the 9180 is the all new driver screening that 
  looks like a film grain."

  I would note a couple of things about that: Different is not good. When I do 
  my color management thing and get the best I can manage from the K3 printers 
  and the iPF5000 on the same media, there's nothing that could be called "all 
  good, all different", it would be called "amazingly good, amazingly similar" 
  both in color, and in black and white. When people tell me about liking the 
  "flavor" of one or another B&w system, I tell them that first I want dead neutral, 
  absolutely smooth; then I'm happy to add flavor as I see fit. If the flavor is 
  there initially, then its not a choice, its a limitation. Driver screening 
  that looks like any kind of grain at all concerns me greatly... lets hope that 
  means: under a good loupe, it looks like film grain!

  C. David Tobie
  Product Technology Manager
  ColorVision Business Unit
  Datacolor Inc.
  CDTobie@...
  www.colorvision.com

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



   


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