Digital BW, The Print

I just joined this group, and I'm hoping you can help me make an educated decision 
regarding printing software and/or inks.

I am relatively new to digital dark rooms.  So far, approximately 85 percent of my 
prints are B&W, scanned from B&W negatives.  I also use the printer for occaisional 
color prints from scanned slides.  I have tried the Clayton Jones black-only work flow, 
but find it grainier and warmer that I would like (with Epson Enhanced Matte paper, 
and Matte Black ink).  I have also tried printing with all ultra chrome inks, but either 
have metamerism problems, or the prints are too cool/greenish.  Payday is nearing, 
and I'm about to throw cash in the direction of better prints--but I'm not sure what 
direction that is.

Imageprint?  Septone?  QTR?  MIS inks?  What??

I have a Mac G4 15-inch Powerbook (1 GHz), and a 1.25 GHz G4 iMac (17-inch LCD).  
I use Photoshop 7.01 and an Epson 2200.  I also use a Nikon Coolscan 4000ED.

> Imageprint?  Septone?  QTR?  MIS inks?  What??

Easiest out of the box, but most money is ImagePrint. Will also improve your color 
use of the 2200. Downside: you can't tweak the bw ink mix past what is built in, or 
make your own profiles. Many people are very happy with the results, though. 

Zero cost, but some learning would be QTR. If you are on OS X that is likely your 
cheapest option. I'd say, why not start from there and spend money only if you feel 
you need to explore other options.

Also zero cost, but OS 9 (also runs on Classic) is OPM. You can explore that option by 
going to 
http://www.bowhaus.com/inkjetcontrol/
This is basically last year's model, but gives you an idea of what's in store when the 
OS X version comes out this year. The companion IJC software, which makes profiles 
for OPM costs under $200. Unless you get a promise of a free upgrade to the new 
version, however, it's not worth buying the old one. Among other things the new 
version has ways of making bw profiles that are much easier than the OS 9 version.

 
Unless you have a second printer to devote to bw (which is ideal), you'd want to stay 
with the OEM inks on the 2200. 

Generally speaking, the ideal scenario is a printer dedicated to bw (i.e. using UT or 
Piezo inks) and software that allows you to make your own profiles. The more control 
you gain on the process, however, the more you have to be prepared to learn and the 
less "plug-n-play" the solution will be.


Antonis

A quick addendum to Antonis' post. Colorbyte seems to be coming on
strong and the price is very competative.
Tyler

I use QTR and the learning curve is very short, particually with the 
latest release. 
ImagePrint has "hidden costs" if you do not subscribe to their $500 
per annum customer support program you will not get any free upgrades 
beyond a few months. For example they are going to release a new 
version any time. If you purchased a few months ago and did not pay 
the $500 per year you will not get the upgrade for free. Not a great 
policy in my view. It does work on windows of course, but you can 
purchase a pretty good mac system for less and have some pretty good 
hardware to boot. I use a Pismo laptop for QTR and its very nice, 
great for my Ipod too. 

Sierra Gold--- In 
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Antonis Ricos" 
<antonisphoto@y...> wrote:
> > Imageprint?  Septone?  QTR?  MIS inks?  What??
> 
> Easiest out of the box, but most money is ImagePrint. Will also 
improve your color 
> use of the 2200. Downside: you can't tweak the bw ink mix past what 
is built in, or 
> make your own profiles. Many people are very happy with the 
results, though. 
> 
> Zero cost, but some learning would be QTR. If you are on OS X that 
is likely your 
> cheapest option. I'd say, why not start from there and spend money 
only if you feel 
> you need to explore other options.
> 
> Also zero cost, but OS 9 (also runs on Classic) is OPM. You can 
explore that option by 
> going to 
> http://www.bowhaus.com/inkjetcontrol/
> This is basically last year's model, but gives you an idea of 
what's in store when the 
> OS X version comes out this year. The companion IJC software, which 
makes profiles 
> for OPM costs under $200. Unless you get a promise of a free 
upgrade to the new 
> version, however, it's not worth buying the old one. Among other 
things the new 
> version has ways of making bw profiles that are much easier than 
the OS 9 version.
> 
>  
> Unless you have a second printer to devote to bw (which is ideal), 
you'd want to stay 
> with the OEM inks on the 2200. 
> 
> Generally speaking, the ideal scenario is a printer dedicated to bw 
(i.e. using UT or 
> Piezo inks) and software that allows you to make your own profiles. 
The more control 
> you gain on the process, however, the more you have to be prepared 
to learn and the 

> less "plug-n-play" the solution will be.
> 
> 
> Antonis

On Jan 13, 2004, at 1:32 AM, Antonis Ricos wrote:

> > Imageprint?  Septone?  QTR?  MIS inks?  What??
>
> Easiest out of the box, but most money is ImagePrint. Will also 
> improve your color
> use of the 2200. Downside: you can't tweak the bw ink mix past what is 
> built in, or
> make your own profiles. Many people are very happy with the results, 
> though.
>
> Zero cost, but some learning would be QTR. If you are on OS X that is 
> likely your
> cheapest option. I'd say, why not start from there and spend money 
> only if you feel
> you need to explore other options.
>
>
Hi . I am new to this list and to the world of BW digital printing.
I have a g4 dual processor. photoshop 7 and also an epson 2200 printer.

Ive been illustrating and am now branching into the world of 
photography.
So as I am reading all of your wonderful posts I am realizing I know 
nothing. So to begin could you answer a few ?? s

1. what is  QTR?
2. What are MIS inks?
3. What is the Clayton Jones black-only work flow?
4. What are ultra chrome inks?
thanks
lynn

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, lynnfoster <lynnfoster=
@n...> 
wrote:
> 
> On Jan 13, 2004, at 1:32 AM, Antonis Ricos wrote:
> 
> > > Imageprint?  Septone?  QTR?  MIS inks?  What??
> >
> > Easiest out of the box, but most money is ImagePrint. Will also 
> > improve your color
> > use of the 2200. Downside: you can't tweak the bw ink mix past what is =

> > built in, or
> > make your own profiles. Many people are very happy with the results, 
> > though.
> >
> > Zero cost, but some learning would be QTR. If you are on OS X that is 
> > likely your
> > cheapest option. I'd say, why not start from there and spend money 
> > only if you feel
> > you need to explore other options.
> >
> >
> Hi . I am new to this list and to the world of BW digital printing.
> I have a g4 dual processor. photoshop 7 and also an epson 2200 printer.
> 
> Ive been illustrating and am now branching into the world of 
> photography.
> So as I am reading all of your wonderful posts I am realizing I know 
> nothing. So to begin could you answer a few ?? s
> 
> 1. what is  QTR?
> 2. What are MIS inks?
> 3. What is the Clayton Jones black-only work flow?
> 4. What are ultra chrome inks?
> thanks
> lynn

Hi Lynn,

Welcome to the list and the fast moving B&W printing.

1)  QTR is short for QuadToneRIP -- a piece of code that I put together
to have lots of control over how the inks in your printer are used.  
It's available at:   http://www.harrington.com
Assuming you are running Mac OS X 10.2 or 10.3 on your g4 it's simple
to install and run.   There are several ready-to-use profiles for a 2200.

2) MIS Inks is a third party supplier of lots of different inks especially
custom B&W quadtone inks, but also lots of color inks.
See:   http://www.inksupply.com

3) The Clayton Jones black-only BO workflow is used to make B&W
prints using only the black ink.  He also has lots of other info on 
his website.
See:   http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm

4) UltraChrome inks are what came in your printer.  They are Epson's
flagship color inks.

There's lots of info here that takes a while to digest but people
have come up with many ways to get very good B&W prints out of an 
inkjet printer.

Roy