Digital BW, The Print

john dean wrote:
> Sarah,
>
> The K7 is effortless and beautiful with any of these Epson printers,
> even the 6 channel machines. I've been doing this stuff since the very
> first days of Epson photo printers and this is the first inkset that
> really made me want to go out and shoot black and white all together
> since digital printing first started .
I shoot nearly all B&W actually, so this approach works well for me. 
Most of my photography is done with my Bronica system with a Megavision 
monochrome digital back, so my raw files are all B&W to start with. I 
also have a Better Light scan back, but the physical size and weight of 
the equipment tends to mean that in practice I use it less, though I'm 
currently in the process of moving from an old (huge, heavy) Cambo 
Legend to a much smaller and lighter Sinar Alpina system, but even then 
I usually either shoot infrared or do B&W conversions anyway. Both 
cameras give very high resolution results (4000x4000 for the Megavision 
and 6000x8000 for the Better Light), and neither have losses from Bayer 
filters, so I can get some very sharp results when I do B&W conversions. 
All I really need to do is figure out how to print them and do them 
justice! :-)

Yes, my equipment is a bit crazy, but so am I, so that's OK. :-)
>  With the 2400 printer you have
> and QTR software which is $50.00 you don't really have to invest in a
> spectro. The paper curves Jon has made are really good for these 7 and
> 8 channel machines unless you are using some really unusual papers,
> then you need to make your own.  I use the reasonably priced
> ColorVision spectro for everything color and monochrome, including
> Studio Print, and it works very accurately for me.
>
>   
OK, in that case I'll probably just pick one of the papers that are 
supported out of the box and use the default profiles -- it'll probably 
be good enough for my purposes, at least to start with.
> Right now the only downside to Piezo K6 and 7 inks is that they are
> created for matte and rag matte papers. They look excellent on the
> Hahnemuhle, Innova, and Crane matte papers. Dmax is a little better
> than Ultrachrome. 
OK, I'll look into those papers first, then.
> However, if you want the more explosive dmax and
> look of a glosssy paper, you will have to wait until sometime this
> fall. They are in the process of producing a new formulation of K7
> that will work on both glossy and matte papers without the need to
> spray or post coat with anything. They will incorporate a seperate
> glop channel, as in the HPZ, to remove the gloss issues but should be
> smoother because of the additonal ks. They won't really be suitable
> for 6 channel machines but the modern Epsons beyond 6 channels will be
> the printers to use. The first set will be selenium tone, followed by
> neutal and sepia.
>
>
>   

Fascinating... I think I'll probably go for the current matte inks with 
a view to having a go with the new version when it arrives -- I'll hold 
off making the continuous feed decision until then. Sounds great.

Thanks,
Sarah