Digital BW, The Print

Yes, the dots are normal.  IP uses a mixture of light black, light cyan, and light magenta dots in the highlights in order to obtain a neutral print with little metamerism.  What you're seeing is that mix.

Piezo uses a lighter tone gray ink for the highlights, so the dots can be packed together closer and aren't as noticeable.

It's not a fair comparison in the sense that IP is using color inks on the 2200 to print grayscale images where Piezo uses grayscale inks.  However, it is a fair comparison in the sense that both systems are designed for high-quality photo printing.  So, you'll just have to decide for yourself if the highlight dots detract from your prints and outweigh any other advantages of IP.

--Tom

On Mon, 19 Jan 2004, Tom Salyer wrote:

> 
> After over three years printing Piezography on an Epson 1160, I just 
> started working with Image Print and an Epson 2200 with my G4 Mac and 
> OS 10.2.

[snip]

> With the naked eye I see dots in the highlights along the 1 percent to 
> 5 percent bar, and even into the 10 or 15  percent bar on top. They are 
> subtle, I have to stick my nose into the print to see them, but there 
> are there. 

[snip]