Digital BW, The Print

I went through the posterization nightmare for some time, worked with
curves, emailed Roark, etc. I kept looking at good 21-step printouts
and  good histograms and bad prints.

I discovered that the problem was not in the print at all, but in the
scan. I was printing 4x5 through an Epson 2450, and was using Vuescan
at the time. Magnified to 100%, the monitor showed these  little
"bloches" in 90%+ here and there, plus problems in very subtle areas
of mid-tones.  What appeared to be posterization was not. Changing
settings (I think most of the problem was using "Log" choices on the
Color/BW Curve tab) helped, but changing to Silverfast solved the
whole problem of "bloches" completely.

That did not solve the "flat" print problem and the gray for black
problem, especially with comparisons to silver print of the same
image. (Or the bad chip on the MIS cartridge nightmare, clogs, etc.,
with 1280's). Observations:
1. The mediums are different, and will always look different.
2. Digital grayscale will be experimental for a while - but is
improving. The suggestions in this thread (Mediastreet black, other
work-arounds) help until something really good comes along. Roark,
Randall, et.al., are all motivated to improve the medium more than the
profit line, and VM-type workflows produce satisfactory prints at less
expense than other "solutions."
3. Accurate color management and profiling (and I mean call a profiler
and pay to get it done) setting and synchronization of scanner,
monitor, computer, printer is critical. (You can't know how to change
your course if your compass if off.)
4. The necessity of eternal fiddling with settings and curves and inks
and papers is a lot like darkroom work. Choose one ink set, choose one
paper, get the curve for the image tone that is acceptable on a good
scan image. It takes way longer and way more frustration than
expected. Once there, don't even be tempted to change it.
5. Use the settings, work your images, and print - and hope it looks
good every time you wait anxiously for the edge of the print to appear
out of the printer.


Good luck, and patience in the meantime.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., Matt M <matt1729@r...> wrote:
> Hi folks,
> 
> I have been working for the past three days with Paul Roark's curves 
> for the mis-vm ink set on an epson 1280. I have been trying to avoid 
> banding, posterizing and getting the rich black with details that I 
> got with the epson inks.
>