Digital BW, The Print

> Steadman:  Given that proper profiles are so important to getting the best results with ink and paper, how is it that MIS only has three profiles available?

This is a good question! It's been like that for a long time. But I don't think you really need many profiles for black and white printing. Paul's curves are made around the Epson Archival matte, but also work very well with the following papers:

Epson Archival Matte
Epson Watercolor
Torchon/Royal Riviera
Epson Heavyweight Matte
Aspen Dual Sided Matte Paper
Orwell
William Turner
Legion Photo Matte

Somerset Enhanced and Museo blacks are not deep with Paul's curves, but neither is the Piezo system. These papers just don't seem to have deep blacks, if that is important to you

> In comparison, the Piezography system ships with 25 or more paper specific profiles.

But if you print all 25 profiles on say, epson archival matte paper, they'll all print extremely close to each other. You will have 22 useable prints, and have a hard time telling them apart. (3 of them are darker and contrastier than the others)

> Am I missing something here?

Yup, see above.

>
> I have seen with my own eyes the difference that a properly profiled paper/ink combination can make.  IF one uses a paper that is not with a matiching profile, there is a likelihood of some "flaws" in the print or a sub-optimum print (as a consultant would say).

I think this is very true for color, not so true for black and white. I suppose you could just choose the 3 or 4 papers you really like and then have someone profile them for you.

Jery