Digital BW, The Print

In a word, yes. But you have many places along the way that could be
problematic. My suspicion is that it's the profile. Profiles are much
better at remapping color than density, and you are using color inks
as well. But you say it's there without the profile, so I suspect you
need to carefully relinearize, which will then put you in a position
of having to reprofile as well. I'm not suprised you see it without
linearization as the transitions from light to dark ink components are
not smoothed. I don't know anything about Colorburst's linearizing
process, but if you have the option of selecting the number of patches
on a chart, pick many.
With StudioPrint I'm using 80, and am tempted do try even more. The
cross-over points may need optimizing as well.
I suspect you have one problem compounding another, from linearization
to profiling. Since you say a clean created grad has the problem, it's
probably not the file, usually it is. Gradients edited into 8 bit gray
files tend to band in smooth areas, one workaround is to do it on an
adjustment layer and add noise to the mask gradient.
Tyler

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Sarah Smith"
<ssmith@f...> wrote:
> I'm using an Epson 9600 with UltraChrome inks (Matte black), Somerset 
> Velvet for Epson, and ColorBurst RIP (PC version).  I custom-built a 
> profile (DTP-41 with UV filter and Monaco Profiler Pro) to be used 
> specifically for black and white images, and have had great results.  
> The problem is that I have some images I need to print for a customer 
> that have a smooth gradient - basically a heavy dodge on the subject 
> matter to create a halo effect - that show some "breaks" in the 
> transitions.  When I print a gradient test image (created in 
> Photoshop) I can see them, albeit they are very slight, meaning it's 
> not an artifact from adjusting the file.  I've tried different 
> resolutions and screening algorhythms (lower quality is slightly 
> better, but still not perfect) to try and improve things, but I can't 
> completely get rid of it.  I've printed the test with no profile 
> applied, and it seems to be there in the linearization as well.  I 
> even tried some tests with no linearization or profile, and I get the 
> same problem.  Has anyone been able to print a super-smooth, perfect 
> tonal gradient with this (or any) inkjet printer?  Or am I always 
> going to have some slight rough spots?  Every other type of black and 
> white image I print looks beautiful... it's just these damned 
> gradients without any texture that give me fits.  
> 
> Sarah Smith