Digital BW, The Print

first, I read both reviews before buying the 7660 and could not 
reproduce the published b&w differences between the 7660 and 7960.  
In my tests the dither pattern was identical.  I used the same cart 
in both printers.  2 reps at HP also told me that in b&w mode that 
the 7660 and 7960 are identical, the driver update only affected the 
color performance (and I've only made 2 color prints with my 7660 and 
was happy enough with both).  There are certain tones and patterns 
that cause the 7660 to fail (ie. the dither pattern becomes 
noticable), but it hasn't limited my serious use of the printer or my 
confidence in showing the prints that I make from it, but the Epson 
dither pattern is definitely nicer.  Shadow block up has not been 
much of a problem for me either and compared to my 1160+MIS VM I am 
happier with shadow detail from the HP.  I also find that the HP 
handles smooth gradients much more precisely.  The Epson handles 
highlights much better than the HP though mainly because that is 
where the HP dither pattern breaks down. 

Both systems have their strengths and it simplistic at best to say 
that one is better than the other for all users.

I have been making excellent prints on my HP (avoiding images that I 
know it can't handle just as I had to do with my Epson+MIS) and 
enjoying the absolute lack of clogs.

When something better comes out for b&w I'll have no regrets dropping 
my 7660 off at the Salvation Army... until then it's shooting out 
beautiful b&w 8x12s as fast as I can feed it paper:)

mark

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Editor P.O.V. 
Image Service" <editor@p...> wrote:
> I have BOTH an HP 7660 and the MIS inks running in EPSONs..
> 
> The HP prints look great until you compare them head to head with 
MIS 
> prints.
> 
> If you decide to go the HP route you will almost certainly need a 
7960.  
> Why? It's the ONLY HP using the #59 cartridge that allows you to 
disable 
> the HP's internal color management. If you don't disable that 
driver 
> color management:
> 
> 1)   The HP will block up your shadows and increase contrast to 
make the 
> prints pop... If I wanted that I'd do it in Photoshop myself.
> 
> 2)   Being unable to disable driver color management means that 
color 
> images on the 7660 end up having the gamut limited twice, plus the 
> possible conversion errors, if you try  building custom profiles 
and 
> using them.
> 
> The 7660 also suffers from creating pattern artifacts in B&W when 
using 
> the #59 cartridge, that do not similarly affect the 7960 since the 
> latter's driver was updated... 
http://www.photo.net/equipment/hp/hp7960/
> 
> As for the 7960 it's driver oversharpens whether or not you ask it 
to..
> http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/HP%207960/page_5.htm
> 
> Until HP updates it's driver (which I've entered a version feature 
> request for with HP) for the 7660 and 7760, I can't recommend them 
for 
> serious prints.
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
> Keith Krebs
> 
> "Just some guy," caretaker of the Multiverse's largest EPSON 
printer 
> User Community (highly recommended by Vogon Poets and MegaDodo 
> Publications), at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EPSON_Printers/
> and  the Multiverse's largest Canon printer User  Community at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Canon-printers
> "For the rest of you out there, the secret is to bang the rocks 
together 
> guys"