Digital BW, The Print

I have just moved out of the wet darkroom and am setting myself up 
digitally -- I have a new epson 2200.  I have been reading posts 
here for a week or two and I need a bit of assistance in 
understanding profiles, curves, and RIPs. I am not sure I understand 
the difference and whether I need to do just one of these 
calabrations or more than one.
I am told that I can downlaod profiles  -- curves too?
Right now, as a start, I am using the original ink set at BO with 
EEM paper.  That is the Photo Black cartridge.  The printer also has 
a Light black - does that one function in concert with the PK when I 
set at BO?
Also, I have not run a color print through the printer at this 
point -- is it wise to not do that (the curiosity is killing me)and 
just leave this a virgin B&W printer.  My work is B&W.
Any assistance is appreciated or links to other sources.  I have 
read the Clayton Jones articles -- they were very helpful.
Thanks.  Jan Palmer

> From: classicjan1949 [mailto:ClassicJan@...]
>
> I have just moved out of the wet darkroom and am setting myself up
> digitally -- I have a new epson 2200.  I have been reading posts
> here for a week or two and I need a bit of assistance in
> understanding profiles, curves, and RIPs. I am not sure I understand
> the difference and whether I need to do just one of these
> calabrations or more than one.
> I am told that I can downlaod profiles  -- curves too?
> Right now, as a start, I am using the original ink set at BO with
> EEM paper.  That is the Photo Black cartridge.  The printer also has
> a Light black - does that one function in concert with the PK when I
> set at BO?

If you're using black only, you don't need profiles, because there's not
much to profile. However, on matte papers, you really should buy the Matte
Black ink, since it's darker. And no, BO mode doesn't use the light black.

> Also, I have not run a color print through the printer at this
> point -- is it wise to not do that (the curiosity is killing me)and
> just leave this a virgin B&W printer.  My work is B&W.
> Any assistance is appreciated or links to other sources.  I have
> read the Clayton Jones articles -- they were very helpful.

There's no harm to printing color. It won't mess up your B&W printing. But
that's where you start facing color management questions. If you're printing
from Photoshop, you can either apply the profile in PS or in the driver. I
recommend startin with the stock profiles, and letting the driver do the
conversion, by specifying a print space of "Printer color management" in PS,
and then selecting ICM and the appropriate profile in the Advanced page of
the driver.

--

Ciao,               Paul D. DeRocco
Paul                mailto:pderocco@...

Hello Jan,

>Right now, as a start, I am using the original ink set at BO with 
>EEM paper.  That is the Photo Black cartridge.  

The Matte Black will give a much better Dmax than Photo black, and not
so warm in color.


>The printer also has a Light black - does that one function 
>in concert with the PK when I set at BO?

No.


>Also, I have not run a color print through the printer at this 
>point -- is it wise to not do that (the curiosity is killing me)and 
>just leave this a virgin B&W printer.  My work is B&W.

Actually, even with BO some of the color ink is being used during
cleaning cycles, so there is no advantage to not making any color
prints.  Go ahead and give it a try.

Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm