Digital BW, The Print

David, I can only speak from my perspective, so.

 

For sure there are tinkers out there that are always looking for the magic
bullet. They would not be looking if they hadn't already found it though. We
all hopefully have a vision that we would like to see on paper and to that
end we are all tinkers. The ABW mode with the newer Epson printers can make
some darn nice prints if you get in and tinker a little with tone, density,
etc. so that it has been some what perfected.  "The evident characteristic
of the Advanced B&W mode is the almost perfect linearity" from Giorgio
Trucco comments on Digital Outback.  This was also supported by Roy's
posting the other day where he posted the various ink output from both color
and ABW mode. To correct for the excess color ink usage a well made ICC
profile may be the answer. It seems that your profile is lacking is shadow
detail? Is that what you mean by cleaner? Shadow contrast with detail? I am
no expert on PFP and I can agree with you that while they give you the
control over split toning a bit of tweaking is needed to continue with the
punch at the bottom of the scale. A flaw in the default of PFP or just a
preference that we don't share? Or lack of knowledge of the program? 

 

It sounds like you spent some time getting ABW to perform well, as did I. Do
I use those setting that I developed? Sure do. Why?, because they work and
with limited time, I have yet to come up with a better solution with PFP and
extended grays.   

 

The over riding issue for some is permanence and they feel that some color
pigments just don't provide the required time in this realm. Others are
putting their trust in this ink set or that ink set. Why? Faith in the
research and marketing hype? There is also the issue of control over the
image. If you make it through dedicated practices that you understand and
can manipulate there is for some a higher level of satisfaction in the end
product. 

 

Eric  

 

 

Eric Neilsen Photography

4101 Commerce Street

Suite 9

Dallas, TX 75226

http://e.neilsen.home.att.net

http://ericneilsenphotography.com

Skype ejprinter

  _____  

From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David
Keenan
Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2007 10:29 AM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] ABW vs. the world

 

I have made many prints on an Epson R2400 using ABW mode and now that I have
a 3800, I continue to rely on ABW.

With my new 3800, I profiled all my papers over (too many) hours using the
"extended gray" feature of the latest version of PrintFix Pro and did some
print comparisons. The ABW prints were better in my (and other) opinions.
The shadows were cleaner for sure.

I haven't used my copy of QTR since my 2200 died and I replaced it with a
R2400.

Still for some reason I feel inadequate even though I am quite happy with
the prints I make especially on Innova F-type paper...

My burning question is why do other printers find using ICC profiles,
dedicated inksets, QTR , etc. valuable and spend so much time with it all?
Are their prints that much better then what the Epson driver can do in ABW
to make all the extra work (hassle, in my opinion) worth it?

Or do these printers have an inherent "tinkerers mentality" (that I clearly
lack) that makes this fun for them and that's why they choose the extra
effort?

Bottomline -- does this effort show up in the prints?

Dave.

-- 
Portfolio: www.david-keenan.com/portfolio
Web Site: www.david-keenan.com
2007 PAW: www.david-keenan.com/paw

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