Digital BW, The Print

Thank you Tyler, I received my two prints today!

Both look excellent and very professional. I was wondering if I had 
the guts to run GLOP full bleed (messing up my 7600), or whether to 
use margins, as you did.  The margins are very subtle and not 
intrusive. Probably a good choice ;>)

I am 100% committed to moving to a gloss B&W ink set for the new 
fiber papers. I print 99%+ of my work on photo papers. I proof on 
Premium Semi-Matte, Premium Luster, and Premium Semi-Gloss, all in 
24" rolls. I will probably commit to the Epson Exhibition Fiber 
(Innova version in rolls) and Harman Glossy Ai as my two "stock" 
premium photo papers.

I also printed a version of the image that you posted on Moab Entrada 
Bright White using the Carbon 6 inks that I have installed in my 
7600.  I love the look of that image.  And, despite my strong 
preference for photo/glossy papers, I prefer this specific image on 
the Entrada.

One thing that is apparent is that my blacks are quite blocked up 
with very little detail compared to the prints that you sent. I will 
try a curve to open them up a bit so that I am comparing apples-to-
apples on the images. I quite *like* that deep black with very little 
detail in the out-of-focus background for this image, but it makes 
the comparison very hard ....

I may also try making additional B&W prints on the Exhibition Fiber 
and a couple of other papers using an Epson K3 ink set - and blocking 
up the shadows a bit - to compare more samples to the Entrada and the 
glossy that you provided.  

As I said, I am 100% sure I am going to install a dedicated, glossy 
B&W ink set. I am going to mix up a sample glossy B&W set for myself 
using a black dye ink I have also, I'll compare that to the prints 
that you sent as an extra data point.  I am still debating between 
GLOP and spraying - I hate to mess up my poor printer .... ;>)

I don't know if any of those comments are useful, but ... above all, 
Thank you very much for taking on the huge task and sharing your 
research with the folks here!  I really appreciate receiving the 
prints! 

I look forward to hearing others comments here too.  

Best,
Michael