Digital BW, The Print

After fooling with this to the point of madness, I finally tried a
sheet of film with a white strip on the end (from a friend, Highland
or 3M brand I think). The image printed fine, which leads me to the
conclusion that my problem has been how the printer handles this film
(and not problems with the printer nozzles or head alignment). 

I'm assuming that the strip which goes in first allows the printer to
better grab the film, and allows it to print without banding. 

Too bad that I've bought a package each of 8.5x11 and 11x17
transparency film without the strip, but maybe I can try gluing one on
to each sheet. 

David. 


--- In DigitalBla
ckandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Steven Karafyllakis"
<stevekphoto@...> wrote:
>
> David;
> 
> >> I need the 
> > random "grain"/pattern similar to an aquatint screen or bitmap 
> image. 
> > To get this I've been printing grayscale images using Quadtone RIP, 
> > with matte black only ink, printing at 720 DPI, uni-directional.
> 
> Banding on transp. film is very common, more the rule than the 
> exception. I think it has to do with decreased dot-gain. If you 
> need 'grain', introduce it in the image with a grain filter, or 
> PS's 'add noise' function, but print the neg at the highest res the 
> printer will allow, (2880 and 'finest detail)and as many ink channels 
> as you can muster.
> > 
> > I've also tried printing using the R2400 Advanced B/W mode, which 
> > doesn' not give me options for resolution or ink cartridges, but 
> I've 
> > been having the same banding issues in this mode as well. 
> 
> In the long run I think you'll do better with PK, if only because it 
> will stay on the film long enough to do the job? If you need more 
> density, try the 'spectral density' approach, that is use the plate's 
> lack of sensetivity to red to build the density to the level you 
> need. I'm thinking QTR with two blended curves might give the best 
> combination of number of channels firing, and density. One curve 
> would be only the blacks: PK, LK, and LLK. The second curve would be 
> M and LM, with perhaps yellow as a toner to produce red,if you really 
> need heavy density, as for platinum printing. The two could be 
> blended to suit. This would give you 5 or 6 channels firing, and 
> might just do the trick
> 
>  
> Hope some of this helps
> 
> Steve Karafyllakis
>