Digital BW, The Print

We have a Roland D'vinci 64" printer which runs currently with 5 blacks 
and a full Hexachrome set (12 different inks in total). We print mainly 
for very fussy photographers and artists. Our alternate printer is 
currently a 9600 running via Imageprint 6. There is a noticeable 
difference in output quality for both B&W and color images between the 
two. The flexibility of the D'Vinci setup (based on StudioPrint 11/12 
RIP) allows you to use basically any ink in any position with your 
printer, with up to six different dilutions of black at once. You can 
print with black inks only, or use some or all of the color inks.  You 
could theoretically have 12 different black inks loaded,  provided that 
no more than six where used at a time. For less demanding output we 
have setups using just four inks - CMY and one black, or CMYOG and one 
black.  The downside is that it is a much bigger outlay than an Epson 
9800 and does require specific profiling and linearization for each 
setup, but it is better made, more reliable, cheaper to run and offers 
superior output in return.


Warren Macris