Digital BW, The Print

Hi all,

I have finally gotten my 2200 to print using an old Epson driver, and with the latest version of 
QTR. However, I now have major microbanding using either the driver or the RIP. I know the 
banding issue has been beaten to death here, so I went through the archives and found some 
ideas to try. Simply printing using 2880 instead of 1440 seemed to do the trick, however 
here's my question:

Though the banding is now gone, I find I need to lighten the image in PS a ridiculously huge 
amount to get it right in the print. Anyone know why I would need to do this?

thanks!
Sarah