Digital BW, The Print

I know the question is not posted in the right place but I can't find 
a better one when reading some pro's posts. So please don't kick me 
out.

I'm currently using a 1800 and a 1290-Piezo-QTR with CS. I'm making 
my profile with a Pulse X-rite (most affordable solution at the time 
I got it but maybe not the most accurate one). This all serves photo 
printing exclusively at the (very) amateur level.

I'm considering now upgrading for a 4800, mainly for color (for BW 
may also use it with QTR in ABW).

I'm wondering if a RIP would help me improve if not my photos at 
least my prints with a 4800 (and eventually the 1800 that I could 
possibly linearised). It's my understanding that RIPs not only 
provide a linearisation capability but also a better dithering than 
Epson drivers (with additional features of less interest for me such 
as images placement on a single sheet...and maybe some key ones I 
have not yet identified).

Does this make sense and if so what would you recommend me to look 
at. Any comments are welcome : personal, url link,...

Thanks for your help.

Olivier

I would first make some prints with the 4800 in ABW mode and see if the results meet 
your expectations and requirements. I'm extremely happy with mine straight from the box.

Brad
Urban pix: http://www.citysnaps.net




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Olivier" <odesmais@y...> wrote:

>
> I know the question is not posted in the right place but I can't find 
> a better one when reading some pro's posts. So please don't kick me 
> out.
> 
> I'm currently using a 1800 and a 1290-Piezo-QTR with CS. I'm making 
> my profile with a Pulse X-rite (most affordable solution at the time 
> I got it but maybe not the most accurate one). This all serves photo 
> printing exclusively at the (very) amateur level.
> 
> I'm considering now upgrading for a 4800, mainly for color (for BW 
> may also use it with QTR in ABW).
> 
> I'm wondering if a RIP would help me improve if not my photos at 
> least my prints with a 4800 (and eventually the 1800 that I could 
> possibly linearised). It's my understanding that RIPs not only 
> provide a linearisation capability but also a better dithering than 
> Epson drivers (with additional features of less interest for me such 
> as images placement on a single sheet...and maybe some key ones I 
> have not yet identified).
> 
> Does this make sense and if so what would you recommend me to look 
> at. Any comments are welcome : personal, url link,...
> 
> Thanks for your help.
> 
> Olivier
>

Epson drivers have excellent dither; not all RIPs do.  Most all are
available for free 30-day trial.  I highly suggest you do that before
spending a dime on a RIP.

I assume you meant with Qimage in ABW, not QTR.  QTR does not use the Epson
driver.

Best regards,
John Moody

-----Original Message-----
From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Olivier
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 12:59 PM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] 4800 RIP choice

I know the question is not posted in the right place but I can't find
a better one when reading some pro's posts. So please don't kick me
out.

I'm currently using a 1800 and a 1290-Piezo-QTR with CS. I'm making
my profile with a Pulse X-rite (most affordable solution at the time
I got it but maybe not the most accurate one). This all serves photo
printing exclusively at the (very) amateur level.

I'm considering now upgrading for a 4800, mainly for color (for BW
may also use it with QTR in ABW).

I'm wondering if a RIP would help me improve if not my photos at
least my prints with a 4800 (and eventually the 1800 that I could
possibly linearised). It's my understanding that RIPs not only
provide a linearisation capability but also a better dithering than
Epson drivers (with additional features of less interest for me such
as images placement on a single sheet...and maybe some key ones I
have not yet identified).

Does this make sense and if so what would you recommend me to look
at. Any comments are welcome : personal, url link,...

Thanks for your help.

Olivier





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "John Moody" 
<moodymz3@y...> wrote:
>  Most all are
> available for free 30-day trial.  I highly suggest you do that 
before
> spending a dime on a RIP.
> 


I would have to echo this. Even if you don't see a demo, often if you 
contact the company they will find a way to send you a demo. When 
they finally get their x800 printer version released, you might want 
to check with http://www.digifab.com for the Evolution RIP, I'm very 
happy with it's performance (if not the user manual or lack there of) 
on my 9500.

One thing that you will need to consider.... Most RIPs will want CMYK 
profiles. I'm pretty sure that your Pulse system won't have this 
option unless you knew you needed it at the time of purchase. But 
hope is not lost! Since you have a spectro, you might find a place to 
make you CMYK profiles much cheaper than others by having you measure 
the charts! This might allow you to get features that the Pulse 
upgrade may not offer.