Digital BW, The Print

Martin,

We just need verification that the inks go 
through the new printers.  The problem 
printer I have encountered is the 1160 with 
the split drop technology.  

Dan Burkholder just ran the Spectratones 
through the 980 which workd out fine on 
ilford paper, we are doing a little 
developmental work together for contact 
printing as I've already had success with 
cyanotype and gumbichrome with some 
other artists using the Spectratones and the 
3000 with PressReady and ilford 
transparency film (now discontinued and 
I've switched to Oce transparency film which 
takes more Spectratone ink then the pictorico 
transparency film.)

I have to update the website on all of the 
bazillion epson printers, but the 3000/1520/
800 and the 1200 like line are good to go.

Anyone know of a place were all of the 
epson models are listed with their printhead 
specs?  I lost track about 1.5 years ago.  

The new Epson Swellable Polymer papers 
also have the potential to be super durable 
since the Ilford papers are also Swellable 
Polymer media.  Now I just wonder where 
epson got the idea from?  Hmmmmm.

Thanks,

Allen Maertz
lincolninks.com



  
Message: 19
   Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 00:03:10 -0000

   From: mwesley250@...
Subject: Re: Spectratone Quadtone inks

Allen,

And I thought I was getting crowded out of 
my work space! (Of course 
if you need some place to store some of 
those printers.....)

I'm glad the workflow is the same. I was 
looking to see what the 
lowest cost path might be for people to give 
your inks a try.

I ran across the Brightcube paper on their 
retail site:

http://www.photoinkjet.com/

Well you are succeeding in getting me more 
interested.

Thanks,
Martin

Allen,

Once again a wealth of information.

I will send Dan Burkholder an invitation to join this group but, as 
you are in contact with him, I would appreciate it if you passed the 
word to him also. As a founding father, if not the founding father, 
of fine art digital B&W output his contributions would be of great 
interest.

A question on the Epson 3000. I have realized that I have ruled it 
our as a printer option for myself since I am a currently working 
with the Piezo inks. Micro-banding with those inks and the 3000 have 
been an issue, although apparently much improved with their latest 
driver. Have you experience any of these problems with the 
Spectratone Quads on the 3000?

Any final print quality differences between the 4 and 6 ink set 
prints?

What's your source for the Oce film? I see the Oce paper on your site 
but only in large sheets. Is it available in smaller sizes?

One last (not likely) question, which of the current Epson papers use 
the Swellable Polymer or is this something that has not been released 
yet?

Thanks,
Martin


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., allentakichi@e... wrote:

> Martin,
> 
> We just need verification that the inks go 
> through the new printers.  The problem 
> printer I have encountered is the 1160 with 
> the split drop technology.  
> 
> Dan Burkholder just ran the Spectratones 
> through the 980 which workd out fine on 
> ilford paper, we are doing a little 
> developmental work together for contact 
> printing as I've already had success with 
> cyanotype and gumbichrome with some 
> other artists using the Spectratones and the 
> 3000 with PressReady and ilford 
> transparency film (now discontinued and 
> I've switched to Oce transparency film which 
> takes more Spectratone ink then the pictorico 
> transparency film.)
> 
> I have to update the website on all of the 
> bazillion epson printers, but the 3000/1520/
> 800 and the 1200 like line are good to go.
> 
> Anyone know of a place were all of the 
> epson models are listed with their printhead 
> specs?  I lost track about 1.5 years ago.  
> 
> The new Epson Swellable Polymer papers 
> also have the potential to be super durable 
> since the Ilford papers are also Swellable 
> Polymer media.  Now I just wonder where 
> epson got the idea from?  Hmmmmm.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Allen Maertz
> lincolninks.com
> 
> 
> 
>   
> Message: 19
>    Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 00:03:10 -0000
>    From: mwesley250@e...
> Subject: Re: Spectratone Quadtone inks
> 
> Allen,
> 
> And I thought I was getting crowded out of 
> my work space! (Of course 
> if you need some place to store some of 
> those printers.....)
> 
> I'm glad the workflow is the same. I was 
> looking to see what the 
> lowest cost path might be for people to give 
> your inks a try.
> 
> I ran across the Brightcube paper on their 
> retail site:
> 
> http://www.photoinkjet.com/
> 
> Well you are succeeding in getting me more 
> interested.
> 
> Thanks,
> Martin

Sure, I'll drop Dan Burkholder a line and 
quote your message to him.  He just left for 
one coast or another like yesterday.  I'm sure 
that he will be interested.  We are looking  at 
a high density black solution for him for the 
contact negs.  

On your question on the Piezography on the 
3000 and banding issues.  Well, I had 
banding on both 3000s with the Piezo inks 
and also with the updated driver.  I ran the 
Spectratones and also get banding. Anyway, 
I don't have one of those "perfect" machines 
so just kinda moved on.  Perhaps it will 
work fine for someone with a known good 
printer but I don't have one of em.

The PressReady driver with the Spectratones 
print very well on the very same 3000 
printers.  I'll send you some samples and 
you can come to your own conclusion.  I 
find it just as good or better then the 1200 
with Spectratones and try and steer people to 
that as the best solution for quality, size and 
reliablitly as well as cost.

I vote for the 4 color 3000 over the 1200.

On the source for the Oce clear film, it's Oce.  
John N. can order some in rolls if needed.   
It's probably rebranded somewhere out 
there.

Oce watercolor paper that we have is only 
available in large sheets and you would have 
to cut it down yourself.  I have a 60" paper 
cutter in my studio which sure decreases 
paper costs.  

On the swellable polymer papers for Epson, 
I don't think that they are out yet (supposed 
to be August perhaps?) and am looking 
forwards to testing it out.  I'd just bet that 
they are an ilford technology derived 
product.  

Printed samples will go out to you tomorrow 
so you can post your own opinion on the 
Spectratones.  I'm one of those people who 
appreciate candor which in my mind steers 
me to try and make a better product so don't 
be shy.

Allen Maertz

linconlinks.com

Message: 20
   Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 16:52:44 -0000

   From: mwesley250@...
Subject: Re: Spectratone Quadtone Inks/to 
Martin

Allen,

Once again a wealth of information.

I will send Dan Burkholder an invitation to 
join this group but, as 
you are in contact with him, I would 
appreciate it if you passed the 
word to him also. As a founding father, if 
not the founding father, 
of fine art digital B&W output his 
contributions would be of great 
interest.

A question on the Epson 3000. I have 
realized that I have ruled it 
our as a printer option for myself since I am 
a currently working 
with the Piezo inks. Micro-banding with 
those inks and the 3000 have 
been an issue, although apparently much 
improved with their latest 
driver. Have you experience any of these 
problems with the 
Spectratone Quads on the 3000?

Any final print quality differences between 
the 4 and 6 ink set 
prints?

What's your source for the Oce film? I see 
the Oce paper on your site 
but only in large sheets. Is it available in 
smaller sizes?

One last (not likely) question, which of the 
current Epson papers use 
the Swellable Polymer or is this something 
that has not been released 
yet?

Thanks,
Martin

Allen,

Well here I am again, the man with the endless questions. I do 
appreciate all the information though. I am learning a hell of lot 
here!

Thanks for passing the word to Dan. I recommend Dan's site to 
everyone if you haven't seen it. His images are very powerful.

http://www.danburkholder.com

(While photographers like Dan Burkholder and Gordon Hutchings (Book 
of Pyro, PMK) are recognized for the technical contributions they 
make, I think people often forget, or may not even realize, that they 
are also brilliant photographers producing work of the very highest 
caliber.)

From your feedback on the Epson 3000 I gather the PressReady Rip is a 
solution to the banding issues that seem to be so often associated 
with the model. My original thought had been to purchase a 3000 as a 
dedicated B&W printer but after some e-mails to ConeTech last year I 
took their advice and avoided it. I now have a 1200 but I would like 
to have that 17" wide paper capacity. 

I am really looking forward to seeing the samples.

Thanks also for the info on the film and paper.

Martin


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., allentakichi@e... wrote:
> Sure, I'll drop Dan Burkholder a line and 
> quote your message to him.  He just left for 
> one coast or another like yesterday.  I'm sure 
> that he will be interested.  We are looking  at 
> a high density black solution for him for the 
> contact negs.  
> 
> On your question on the Piezography on the 
> 3000 and banding issues.  Well, I had 
> banding on both 3000s with the Piezo inks 
> and also with the updated driver.  I ran the 
> Spectratones and also get banding. Anyway, 
> I don't have one of those "perfect" machines 
> so just kinda moved on.  Perhaps it will 
> work fine for someone with a known good 
> printer but I don't have one of em.
> 
> The PressReady driver with the Spectratones 
> print very well on the very same 3000 
> printers.  I'll send you some samples and 
> you can come to your own conclusion.  I 
> find it just as good or better then the 1200 
> with Spectratones and try and steer people to 
> that as the best solution for quality, size and 
> reliablitly as well as cost.
> 
> I vote for the 4 color 3000 over the 1200.
> 
> On the source for the Oce clear film, it's Oce.  
> John N. can order some in rolls if needed.   
> It's probably rebranded somewhere out 
> there.
> 
> Oce watercolor paper that we have is only 
> available in large sheets and you would have 
> to cut it down yourself.  I have a 60" paper 
> cutter in my studio which sure decreases 
> paper costs.  
> 
> On the swellable polymer papers for Epson, 
> I don't think that they are out yet (supposed 
> to be August perhaps?) and am looking 
> forwards to testing it out.  I'd just bet that 
> they are an ilford technology derived 
> product.  
> 
> Printed samples will go out to you tomorrow 
> so you can post your own opinion on the 
> Spectratones.  I'm one of those people who 
> appreciate candor which in my mind steers 
> me to try and make a better product so don't 
> be shy.
> 
> Allen Maertz
> 
> linconlinks.com
> 
(snip earlier)