Digital BW, The Print

Yesterday I received a cart of PKN for my 2200 from MIS. After
removing the UC MK, installing the PKN, and purging the nozzle, I
printed some BO prints on Kirkland (Costco) paper, as well as Ilford
Galerie Smooth Pearl. With both papers I'm impressed with the good
dmax, as well as the  greatly reduced bronzing. Also the tone seems
very close to neutral -- cooler than PK yet without a bluish cast. I
originally printed images that had been saved as QTR gray matte tiffs,
but these came out too dark in the shadows and darker midtones. I then
assigned dot gain profiles of 15% to 20% to the images before printing
them and got much better results -- opening up the shadows. I do
think, however, that the images would improve with custom dot gain
curves to retain a bit more detail in the highlights. The only problem
I've had with the ink is some initial microbanding, even after
checking alignment and getting perfect nozzle checks...not sure about
the cause. 

Chris Hargens

Hello Chris,

>The only problem I've had with the ink is some initial microbanding, 
>even after checking alignment and getting perfect nozzle checks...
>not sure about the cause. 

I was able to eliminate the dither banding on my 2200 with BO printing
by doing a head alignment and selecting what normally is not an
optimum number.  Selecting the line number that looked best on the
test print (#8 if I remember correctly) did not reduce the banding. 
But I was in an experimenting mood and did it again with a lower
number (5 I think) and the banding was reduced some.  I kept trying
lower numbers and it kept getting better, down to #2 and it was
finally gone.  I used it for nearly two years that way and never had
to do it again.  I don't know if it will work on yours, but FWIW...  
I also printed with High Speed On, it gave better quality than Off. I
know that goes against common wisdom, but that's the way it was.

Regards,
Clayton


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

Thanks for the tips. For now the banding has disappeared, but I
suspect it may return. For me, when BO is printing optimally it gives
a look of tight, clean grain, something especially attractive with
certain kinds of images. I have a lot of family snaps that fit in this
category.

Chris Hargens


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

>
> Hello Chris,
> 
> >The only problem I've had with the ink is some initial microbanding, 
> >even after checking alignment and getting perfect nozzle checks...
> >not sure about the cause. 
> 
> I was able to eliminate the dither banding on my 2200 with BO printing
> by doing a head alignment and selecting what normally is not an
> optimum number.  Selecting the line number that looked best on the
> test print (#8 if I remember correctly) did not reduce the banding. 
> But I was in an experimenting mood and did it again with a lower
> number (5 I think) and the banding was reduced some.  I kept trying
> lower numbers and it kept getting better, down to #2 and it was
> finally gone.  I used it for nearly two years that way and never had
> to do it again.  I don't know if it will work on yours, but FWIW...  
> I also printed with High Speed On, it gave better quality than Off. I
> know that goes against common wisdom, but that's the way it was.
> 
> Regards,
> Clayton
> 
> 
> Info on black and white digital printing at    
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
>