Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "dellaellingson" <dellaellingson@y...> wrote:
> Harvey,
> 
> You are missing some of the unobvious. EPSON printers do not print pixels. They print dots of ink which are created by the image file which is RIP processed by either EPSON driver software or another RIP. The data that is printed is dot placement data.
> 
> IRIS files are pixel files which interleave the 4 colors. The data sent to the printer is a pixel of color. The IRIS printer images the pixel onto the paper by filling it in with dots of ink. A single pixel can be printed with many as 124 drops of ink.
> 
> I believe that you think there are more similarities than exist in a reality with these different technology.
> 
> Yes of course you can print on any paper you intend with an EPSON. What I attempted to illustrate is that an EPSON needs a coating in order to promote a good color gamut. The IRIS is able to print dots of ink the size of 93 picolitres when it requires great depth of color. This the EPSON can not do. A coating will promote better color depth on the EPSON. Do you see what I mean now?
> 
> Harvey, you must give this process another try. I think that you have concluded a judgement based on an experience which was not favorable. You must not let a disappointing experience allow you to judge the entire medium. What would happen if someone viewed a substandard EPSON print and judged us all so?  Do you want me to e-mail you transposed notes of the IRIS Graphics process? It is very unusual. I will if you like.
> 
> -Della
> 

Della,

They sure seem pretty similar to me.  Both Epson Printers and IRIS Printers are inkjet
technology that place variable number and size ink drops on paper to simulate a continuous
tone image.

In both cases there is a pixel based image which is the data file.
In both cases there is software that processes the data, converting it into many ink drops
that give the illusion of continuous tone.  For the Epson its the driver, the Piezo driver or
an external RIP package.  For the IRIS its the Graphics processor.
In both cases the hardware squirts out many more dots (ink drops) compared to the
number of pixels in the original data.

Granted there's many ways the processing software can work.  It could be half-tone based,
stochastic processing or diffusion dither.  They all have advantages and disadvantages
but they are all after the same goal -- converting continuous tone pixel data into
printer dots that give the illusion of continuous tone.

Roy

BTW, I'd be interested in the notes you have for the IRIS Graphics if you wouldn't
mind emailing them to me.

Thanks,
Roy