Digital BW, The Print

Last week my new 2200 arrived and I've been printing BO with Eboni. 
While the BO approach is just right for certain kinds of prints, I 
find that the dots are problem when rendering smooth skin tones. I 
did a comparsion of BO and full color (metamerism and all) and the BO 
won on crispness but the full-color approach easily one on 
smoothness -- with the BO print the dots noticeable enough to 
distract. Now I'm sure that my problem here was to some extent 
aggravated by the fact that I was starting with a somewhat grainy neg 
to begin with; even so, the full-color print had no problems with 
grain. BTW, I was printing at something 8" by 6". Anyway, I'm now 
beginning to consider the UT7 inkset. However, I had many problems 
with clogs with the UT2 set on the 1280. Further, I sometimes noticed 
a certain flatness in the midtones -- not a problem with BO printing. 
So what I'm asking for is experiences with UT7 as well as any other 
suggestions on how to print continuous-toned negs that are slightly 
grainy.

Chris Hargens

Chris, I've been using the UT7 for about 10 days.  Before that I 
was using BO Eboni on the 2200.  I won't opine on the quality of 
the midtones, but I can tell you that I've had no clogs since 
starting.  I probably have used the printer for at least one print 
each day.

Ed Rudolph


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Chris 
Hargens" <chargens@s...> wrote:
> Last week my new 2200 arrived and I've been printing BO with 
Eboni. 
> While the BO approach is just right for certain kinds of prints, I 
> find that the dots are problem when rendering smooth skin 
tones. I 
> did a comparsion of BO and full color (metamerism and all) 
and the BO 
> won on crispness but the full-color approach easily one on 
> smoothness -- with the BO print the dots noticeable enough to 
> distract. Now I'm sure that my problem here was to some 
extent 
> aggravated by the fact that I was starting with a somewhat 
grainy neg 
> to begin with; even so, the full-color print had no problems with 
> grain. BTW, I was printing at something 8" by 6". Anyway, I'm 
now 
> beginning to consider the UT7 inkset. However, I had many 
problems 
> with clogs with the UT2 set on the 1280. Further, I sometimes 
noticed 
> a certain flatness in the midtones -- not a problem with BO 
printing. 
> So what I'm asking for is experiences with UT7 as well as any 
other 
> suggestions on how to print continuous-toned negs that are 
slightly 

> grainy.
> 
> Chris Hargens

Thanks for replying. I'll probably give the UT7 inks a try once I 
hear more details on their performance. 

Chris Hargens



 --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "edrudolpho" 
<erudolph@p...> wrote:
> Chris, I've been using the UT7 for about 10 days.  Before that I 
> was using BO Eboni on the 2200.  I won't opine on the quality of 
> the midtones, but I can tell you that I've had no clogs since 
> starting.  I probably have used the printer for at least one print 
> each day.
> 
> Ed Rudolph
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Chris 
> Hargens" <chargens@s...> wrote:
> > Last week my new 2200 arrived and I've been printing BO with 
> Eboni. 
> > While the BO approach is just right for certain kinds of prints, 
I 

> > find that the dots are problem when rendering smooth skin 
> tones. I 
> > did a comparsion of BO and full color (metamerism and all) 
> and the BO 
> > won on crispness but the full-color approach easily one on 
> > smoothness -- with the BO print the dots noticeable enough to 
> > distract. Now I'm sure that my problem here was to some 
> extent 
> > aggravated by the fact that I was starting with a somewhat 
> grainy neg 
> > to begin with; even so, the full-color print had no problems with 
> > grain. BTW, I was printing at something 8" by 6". Anyway, I'm 
> now 
> > beginning to consider the UT7 inkset. However, I had many 
> problems 
> > with clogs with the UT2 set on the 1280. Further, I sometimes 
> noticed 
> > a certain flatness in the midtones -- not a problem with BO 
> printing. 
> > So what I'm asking for is experiences with UT7 as well as any 
> other 
> > suggestions on how to print continuous-toned negs that are 
> slightly 
> > grainy.
> > 
> > Chris Hargens

Hello Ed,

>I've been using the UT7 for about 10 days.  Before that I 
>was using BO Eboni on the 2200.  I won't opine on the quality of 
>the midtones...

Don't leave us in suspense!  Please tell us your over all impressions.
 Inquiring minds want to know...


Regards,
Clayton


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

Hi Clayton...  I'm hesitant to say much about the UT7s since I'm quite the newcomer 
to the world of digital B&W printing.  I don't have the experience to compare the UT7 
results to other methods.  Prior to printing with UT7 all I've done is print some BO on 
a 2200 using both the Epson PK on glossy and MIS Eboni on Matte papers.  And also 
print some B&W prints on a non-profiled and then profiled R800.

I've been pretty happy with the UT7 results, after trying both the "Driver, Printer Color 
Management" workflow, and the adjustment curves available from Paul Roark's 
website.  However, I haven't done any step wedge testing yet, to see what tweaks 
might improve the result.  For the moment, I'm simply happy to be able to print a true 
gray scale image!

From the lack of problems I've had and the quality of the results, I'd certainly 
recommend interested 2200 users give the inkset a try.  I'd be interested to hear 
other opinions.  :-)

Ed  

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Clayton Jones" <cj@c...> 
wrote:

> Hello Ed,
> 
> >I've been using the UT7 for about 10 days.  Before that I 
> >was using BO Eboni on the 2200.  I won't opine on the quality of 
> >the midtones...
> 
> Don't leave us in suspense!  Please tell us your over all impressions.
>  Inquiring minds want to know...
> 
> 
> Regards,
> Clayton
> 
> 
> Info on black and white digital printing at    
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm

Hello Ed,

>Hi Clayton...  I'm hesitant to say much about the UT7s since I'm 
>quite the newcomer to the world of digital B&W printing.  

Understood, and your comments are still helpful - a newcomer's
experience is valuable feedback.  I'm swamped with work on a big
project at the moment, but am considering trying it and am eager to
hear anything from UT7 users - Thanks very much.


Regards,
Clayton


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