Digital BW, The Print

Hello:

My name is Joel Beeson and I have been a photojournalist/documentary 
photographer for the past 10+ years. I was trained in silver-based 
darkroom techniques for publication. I have been using Photoshop for 
years, doing web-based imaging, etc. but have not had much success 
printing my mostly black and white work at home from our Mac G4 and 
Epson photo 750.

After seeing prints made by Gene Nocon on his Epson 1200 with MIS inks, 
I found an Epson 1160 printer (new) on the web [it's not even here yet] 
and I have been researching digital B&W printing techniques and inks, 
etc.

I have seen some articles, etc. comparing the MIS quadtone inks and the 
Cone Piezography system. The Cone system seems very good in terms of 
resolution, but it's expensive, no? But I've read also that the Cone 
inks are warm toned; my silver work all has been printed in the past on 
Ilford Gallerie paper, which I consider neutral--maybe on the warm side 
of neutral.

I would like some info and suggestions regarding where to start with 
digital printing. Any feedback on these questions would be appreciated:

1) What inks and papers should I use to get full-toned neutral prints?

2) Is Piezographic system worth the expense?

3) What quantity output of prints justifies buying the bulk ink 
systems, and if so, which system is best?

4) What is the best source of info on digital b&w printing?

5) Any tips on using the Epson 1160 on a Mac platform? Do you print out 
of Photoshop directly?

thank you and excuse the probably redundant  and ill-informed questions 
of a newcomer.

Joel

Hello:

My name is Joel Beeson and I have been a photojournalist/documentary 
photographer for the past 10+ years. I was trained in silver-based 
darkroom techniques for publication. I have been using Photoshop for 
years, doing web-based imaging, etc. but have not had much success 
printing my mostly black and white work at home from our Mac G4 and 
Epson photo 750.

After seeing prints made by Gene Nocon on his Epson 1200 with MIS inks, 
I found an Epson 1160 printer (new) on the web [it's not even here yet] 
and I have been researching digital B&W printing techniques and inks, 
etc.

I have seen some articles, etc. comparing the MIS quadtone inks and the 
Cone Piezography system. The Cone system seems very good in terms of 
resolution, but it's expensive, no? But I've read also that the Cone 
inks are warm toned; my silver work all has been printed in the past on 
Ilford Gallerie paper, which I consider neutral--maybe on the warm side 
of neutral.

I would like some info and suggestions regarding where to start with 
digital printing. Any feedback on these questions would be appreciated:

1) What inks and papers should I use to get full-toned neutral prints?

2) Is Piezographic system worth the expense?

3) What quantity output of prints justifies buying the bulk ink 
systems, and if so, which system is best?

4) What is the best source of info on digital b&w printing?

5) Any tips on using the Epson 1160 on a Mac platform? Do you print out 
of Photoshop directly?

thank you and excuse the probably redundant  and ill-informed questions 
of a newcomer.

Joel

Joel-

Welcome to the forum and to digital BW printing...you will love both. 
We're almost all in the same situation as you...some are only a few 
weeks ahead of you in the switch and some are years into digital BW. 
This forum is the best source of info I have seen anywhere.

> 
> 1) What inks and papers should I use to get full-toned neutral 
prints?
> 

YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY A FEW THAT ARE DIFFERENT BEFORE YOU TRY TO 
SETTLE IN ON JUST ONE THAT IS YOUR NEUTRAL CHOICE. THE BEST STARTING 
PAPER IS EASILY EPSON ARCHIVAL MATTE...IT IS VERY INEXPENSIVE AND 
HARD TO BEAT FOR DEEP BLACK (YOU COULD ALSO TRY LEGION PHOTO MATTE, 
CONE MATTE, (MORE EXPENSIVE)HAHNEMUHLE PHOTO RAG)...BEFORE YOU 
DISMISS THE IDEA OF THE WARMER PRINTS, I URGE YOU TO BE OPEN TO THE 
GREATER RANGE OF DETAIL YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PRINT WITH DIGITAL AND 
THE BEAUTY OF WARMER SHADOWED PRINTS...I'M TALKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES 
OF MY MOUTH HERE SINCE I AM WORKING HARD TO GET SOME GREAT BLACKS, 
TOO <g>.

> 2) Is Piezographic system worth the expense?
> 

PIEZO SOFTWARE (NOT THE INK IN THE JUDGEMENT OF MANY 1160 USERS) IS 
DEFINITELY WORTH THE PRICE IF YOU SETTLE ON A SPECIFIC INK AND PRINT 
A LOT SO THAT QUICK AND EASY ARE IMPORTANT. USING THE MIS FS OR FS 
NEUTRAL INKS (BULK ONLY ON THE NEUTRAL)AND THE FREE JOHN WOLF CURVES 
YOU CAN GET QUALITY THAT IS ABSOLUTLY AS GOOD AS PIEZO PRINTS. YOU 
MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER THE MIS VM INKS AND THE CURVES MUCH DISCUSSED 
HERE BY PAUL ROARK THAT GET GREAT RESULTS AND OFFER VARIABLE TONE 
FROM WARM TO COLD OR NEUTRAL TO SEPIA.

> 3) What quantity output of prints justifies buying the bulk ink 
> systems, and if so, which system is best?

I THINK THE CIS SYSTEMS CAN BE COST JUSTIFIED PRETTY EASILY, BUT YOU 
SHOULD WAIT UNTIL YOU REALLY ZERO IN ON THE INKS YOU LIKE. ONCE YOU 
LOAD THE CIS YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH COMMITTING THAT PRINTER TO THE ONE 
TYPE OF INK. CARTRIDGES ARE NOT CHEAP BUT THEY GIVE YOU THE ABILITY 
TO TRY SEVERAL INK TYPES. (SWITCHING MID CART IS NOT A GOOD IDEA WITH 
THE 1160 BECAUSE THERE IS NO CHIP SENSOR IN THE CART ((THE ONLY 
ADVANTAGE OF THE CHIP FOR USERS)) BUT YOU CAN USE UP ONE CART AND 
SWITCH TO ANOTHER WITH JUST A VERY SIMPLE CLEANING CYCLE. YOU MIGHT 
TRY THE INKS MENTIONED ABOVE BEFORE OTHERS (I ALSO USE LYSON SMALL 
GAMUT INK, WHICH IS A DYE INK THAT ALLOWS TONING AND SINCE IT IS A 
DYE INK, PRINTS QUITE NICELY ON GLOSSY PAPER, WHICH IS TOUGH WITH 
PIGMENT INKS)

AS TO WHICH SYSTEM...THE NOMORECARTS (CIS) IS EASIER TO USE, THE CFS 
(MIS) HAS A FILTER IN IT WHICH SOME FEEL COULD BE IMPORTANT.

> 
> 4) What is the best source of info on digital b&w printing?

YOU'VE FOUND IT...BUT IT MAKES SENSE TO ALSO LOOK IN ON THE 
PIEZOGRAPHY3000 FORUM WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH DEDICATED TO THAT SYSTEM 
ONLY. 

> 
> 5) Any tips on using the Epson 1160 on a Mac platform? Do you print 
out 
> of Photoshop directly?
> 

I'M A PC GUY, BUT THE MAC SHOULD BE IDENTICAL. WITH THE EPSON DRIVERS 
YOU PRINT DIRECTLY FROM PHOTOSHOP. WITH PIEZO YOU USE THEIR DRIVER 
WHICH IS ACCESS VIA THE PHOTOSHOP EXPORT FUNCTION (SOUNDS BAD BUT IS 
ACTUALLY ABOUT 2-3X FASTER PRINTING, ONE OF THE REALLY BIG ADVANTAGES 
OF IT IF YOU ARE PRINTING A LOT...THE OTHER ADVANTAGE IS THE PROFILES 
OF ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT PAPERS VS THEIR INK (OR MIS FS INK)

> thank you and excuse the probably redundant  and ill-informed 
questions 
> of a newcomer.
> 

THERE ARE NO ILL-INFORMED QUESTIONS, ONLY ILL-INFORMED ANSWERS...JOIN 
IN AND ENJOY THE LIST.

Tom O'Connell

TomOC@...
www.thomasoconnell.com

> Joel