Digital BW, The Print

I have been in the photography business in some way or another all my life since I picked up a camera and first started developing and printing from about 1965. I studied photography full time for three years and did my apprenticeship for two years working with London advertising photographers I now am a director of a successful portrait business.We went digital about seven years ago  we sell large, expensive (because of their quality ad photography) art b&w framed prints. I mention this, not to blow my own trumpet in any way but to give my basis for my view of the Epson 2200. I experienced bad metermerism and bronzing from the printer after trying many papers, profiled properly for the printer  I then as I said tried Image Print as this was reckoned to improve things.It did to a small extent but there was n way I could sell these to our customers as an alternative to the Agfa paper prints we had done professionally, previously. Almost 100% of our work is b&w and most of our images larger than 10x8. I think everyone has different standards and are happy with different results. Our aim was (frightening at the time) to swap from one day to the next from film and fibre to a digital print without our customers noticing. Many had been to us before and would hang their new prints next to the older fibre ones under all sorts of different lighting. this would have been impossible using prints from the 2200. At the time of it's introduction it probably was the best b&w printer of that calibre around but was very quickly superceded but the vastly improved K3 inks. 
I realise that anyines views of a b&w print are their own. But do the metermerism test if you don't beieve me. Hold a fibre print next to the digital one and walk it though differently light rooms if you can. I think you will see what I mean. Then ask would a client be happy with all of tos results in the different conditions. The bronzing of the 2200 is well documented but improved with different papers to some extent.
I hope this makes my views (and that's all they are) clear.
Jules


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Alan Scharf <ascharf@...> wrote:
>
> I wonder if the 2200 printer, ink or Epsom matte paper was quietly improved during its life? I do a lot of B?W printing with mine, using matte black ink only unless I am "toning" it. I have never noticed metamerism or bronzing, but I have noticed that my prints looks superior to my old darkroom prints. Perhaps it is a result of personal preferences or the style of prints we make. I do a lot of "lithos."
> 
> Alan Scharf
> Saskatoon 
>