Digital BW, The Print

On 25/01/2009 Roger wrote:
> I wondered how the bronzing and gloss differential is on papers like
> Epson Premium Semigloss, Silver Rag, or Harman FB Al Baryta?  I'm
> looking for print quality on par with the entry-level R220, which has
> next to no bronzing and gloss differential is hidden on papers like
> the Harman.

The HP's have 3 B&W modes.

- Black & gray only is very neutral but only works on matt papers (on 
which it's excellent). Bronzing and GD is substantial on gloss papers, 
though can be largely cancelled by overcoating with lacquer. I've seen 
very good B&W on Harman FB AL glossy from the Z3100, which has a GLOP 
channel - probably the closest ever to unglazed bromide. The extra gray in 
the Z3100 (over the B9180/8850) doesn't make much difference. It is the 
gray ink/s that are responsible for bronzing on gloss.

- Composite B&W largely avoids bronzing and GD and gives a slightly better 
DMax, but the tone colour is cyan-magenta (varies some depending on paper 
used), and cannot be controlled. Unfortunately there is no ABW-like 
facility to alter tone colour, and that makes composite of limited use.

- Print B&W as colour. Best DMax of the lot and minimal bronzing and GD 
with gloss papers. This is (far) my favourite (for printing quadtoned B&W 
converted to sRGB). Quality and visual appearance on papers such as the 
Harman is excellent, matching or exceeding papers such as Agfa Record 
Rapid from the 1970's before Agfa ruined it by removing the cadmium for 
environmental reasons. This is really rather wonderful from my PoV; I have 
30+ years experience of darkroom B&W and gave it up because my favourite 
materials had disappeared or been reformulated to mediocrity. However I 
favour warm tones. If you are chasing neutrality I think you'll struggle.

The HP's do have some issues with curl (due to expansion of the coating 
when wetted) causing headstrikes with large sheets of most baryta papers, 
but this can be largely avoided by careful dressing of the paper before 
insertion, and supporting the paper at the rear of the printer. Printing 
borderless is best avoided too.

I've not used Hahnemuhle Silver Rag but Neil Snape reviews it with the HP 
at www.neilsnape.com

You'll find much more info about these issues and relative quality of the 
different modes on these and various other papers at 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hp9100/

-- 
Regards

Tony Sleep
http://tonysleep.co.uk