Digital BW, The Print

I received the "Pillar and Staircase" 4x5 print from Clayton Jones in 
the mail a few days ago. Two words:

Awe-some.   :-)


Granted, a scan from a 4x5 negative (I have shot some 4x5, so I have 
a sense of the amount of detail included in the negative), but I 
cannot believe how "small" and "precise" the dots are rendered. I am 
particularly struck by the detail in the highlight on the pew end at 
the bottom of the image, and as well by the detail in the marble 
columns (seams and the subtle gradient differences in the stone).

For giggles, I used the Portfolio Black cartridge from my Piezography 
set-up and printed a BO 5x7 from a large (2720 dpi) 35mm scan on my 
1160 (1440dpi) using some Photo Rag. Good results, but the "dots" are 
obvious, compared to his.

Is the dot size purely a function of ink, paper, and printer DPI 
only? 

Or does the scan density, or other Photoshop/Print Driver parameters 
effect it as well (e.g. because I have a lower density scan, my dots 
are rendered slightly larger than they might have been)?


Just wondering if I should be thinking of investing in a printer with 
a higher dpi (2880), or a better scanner (than the 2720 dpi), or both.

Bill