Digital BW, The Print

>... I have been working to change my 2100/QTR 
>windows/UT3D from 1440 super resolution to 2880 resolution. 
>I was doing so in order see if could get rid of some minor 
>(but once you've seen it annoying) horizontal banding and 
> some coarseness in the midtones. This seems to work out fine.

Yes, 2880 is the answer for QTR -- better smoothness and significantly
better dmax.  Additionally, it only adds a bit more than 10% to the printing
time relative to 1440 super (unlike with the Epson driver).  Sadly, the
profiles will all need re-doing.

> ... my Dmax improved as well a bit. But by no means to a 
> sub-L=15 range. I'm now at L= 15.9-16.2 ...using Epson Enhanced Matte...

I just measured L 14.74 on Premier Art's Matte BW paper (cheap as EEM and
acid free).  See http://www.premierimagingproducts.com/pm_mattebw.php   

I use the 210 gsm version of this paper.  I wonder if the 110 version would
make a good book paper.  It's double sided and is relatively scuff
resistant.

It's not a perfect paper by any means, but it's cheap, acid free, very
smooth (hot press type surface) and has a terrific dmax.  I'd prefer less
(or no) brightening and less curl.  It also has strange things in the
coating that look like small dark threads with a loupe -- curious, but it's
hard to argue with success.  It's known by several names, including Premium
Matte or just Dual Sided 210.

For the best letter-size prices (50 sheet for $12), see
http://www.itsupplies.com/cgi-bin/itsupplies.storefront/4586ba3f00ca54a42740
4200c14c0656/Catalog/1623 

I don't know who ships overseas.  

> ... should I get rid of the interprinting with LK ...

Yes.  MK that is being properly laid down will have it's dmax lowered
whenever any less dense ink is also used in that spot.  It looks to me as if
Gimp print an only lay black down properly at 2880.

I wonder if the more expensive rips have better dithers that give better
speed?  IJC also uses gimp (all be it modified a bit), apparently at 2880
according to my speed comparisons.  At 2880 the quality of IJC/OPM and QTR
prints are great, however.  (It makes me wonder what BowHaus does when it
has a huge show to print.)

> What should be achievable on EEM?

I don't know.  In the first step of QTR, when you do the first Calibration
mode print, the highest dmax will show up on that print.  With Matte BW, it
was at 65.  I set the overall ink limit there and then use no black boost.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com