Digital BW, The Print

David Murphy <dm1000@...> wrote:
>
> ...I have an Epson R280 
> loaded with the 6 cartridge Eboni inkset from MIS.
> 
> ... it seems like in some circumstances and with some 
> photos the printer is able to convincingly render the 
> film grain and 
> it's gradations smoothly and in other cases it can not.
> 
> Where I notice this most is usually with people's hair 
> or beards.  They often appear very splotchy as if the 
> printer is printing straight black 
> or white and doesn't understand that there should be 
> a gray transition in between. ... 
> 
> ...QTR in Black Only mode ... seems to handle these 
> transitions in tone much more smoothly and hair is 
> rendered much more 
> convincingly as opposed to splotchy. 
> I would just print with QTR but I 
> do not like the brown look and I greatly prefer the 
> overall tonality of the 6 cartridge setup.
> 

I can't tell from this just what workflow you're using.  

In addition to what Ernst noted, one difference between the QTR black 
only and the full inkset is the amount of ink (water) that is being 
put on the paper.  Blotchiness can be caused by overloading the paper 
with too much light ink.

This appearance can also be caused by a profile that is not 
appropriate for the paper-ink combination.

If the profiles are made right and the printer is working correctly 
(perfect nozzle check, for example), the full inkset should render 
the gradations as well as the black only.  In fact, many have found 
that the graininess of the black only approach combines with the film 
grain to make an image rougher than if it were a darkroom print.

Testing the system with 21-step test prints makes it easier to spot 
were the problems are.  One such test strip is posted here:
http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/21-Step_0-100_L16_16-bit-top.zip

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com