Digital BW, The Print

This is my first post to this exceptional group. I want to 
compliment all of you for providing such a wide range of detailed, 
professional-level information in a easy-going and welcoming format. 
What a breath of fresh air!

I'm new to the digital landscape, having used a wet darkroom for 
many years. I only print in b&w due to being somewhat color 
deficient (misleadingly referred to as color-blind). In my case I 
see much color, but have a difficult time with separating out 
shades. I've read many of the posts here over the past several weeks 
and am trying to come up to speed with what's required to print 
highly controlled and repeatable b&w prints. It's time for me to get 
started and I need to choose a printer and inks (I've got Elements 
4). My intermediate term goal will be to print 8x10 up to 13x18; 
I'll want to go larger, in a year or so, and would hope the 
transition to larger prints, e.g., 20x30, would flow directly from 
the selections I start with.

In selecting printer/ink/paper, it will be critical that there is no 
possibility for color to appear in the final print. If there were to 
be any sort of color cast that had to be adjusted out, I wouldn't be 
able to deal with it. So, rather than throw out some ideas based on 
the jumble of information I've picked up, I'd like to ask the group 
for some suggestions on how to proceed. Thanks in advance.

Here's a couple of links that some may find interesting: 
- a color assistance tool: http://www.hikarun.com/e/
- a brief color vision test: http://colorvisiontesting.com/online%
20test.htm

Michael

> ... used a wet darkroom for many years. I only print in b&w ...

> ... Elements 4 
> intermediate term goal will be to print 8x10 up to 13x18;

> ... it will be critical that there is no
> possibility for color to appear in the final print.

No inkset I'm aware of can print perfectly neutral from paper white to 100%
black.  Since carbon is warm by nature, the "neutral" inksets use color
pigments to cool the carbon to a tone that is close to neutral.

Monotone inksets will have different tones based on what paper is used.

Every inkset I'm aware of is subject to slight color shifts from batch to
batch.

So the issue is, I think, how does one achieve the desired tone
consistently.

Many simply use a monotone inkset, for example, Piezo, MIS UT-FSN (or UT-FS
for medium warm), UT-R2, or UT-EZ-N (for 8x10).  If one does not buy more
equipment, this might be the safest route to go.  Many printers are
supported with these inksets.

I prefer to have a spectrophotometer to tell me what is going on and then be
able to profile the inks to the tone I want.  Being able to profile the
print to the desired tone on many different papers is the main purpose of
the variable-tone inksets for me.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

Hello.
  Someone used this page before yessy.com. I want to post some of my painting is this gallery, or on ebay. Please give me your advise.
  Thank you.
  
 

		
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