Digital BW, The Print

Yes, the test strip I printed last night on Soft Texture Art did show
over inking. However, it did NOT when I last printed on this paper a
few months ago. That's what has me concerned. The same strip printed a
few months ago using QTR with the same inkset, printer and curve did
NOT over ink and had a higher DMAX. I was careful to limit the black
channel when I originally developed the curve and back then, I was
able to produce properly linearized output ending at a DMAX of 1.63.
Now, the maximum black I can get on the calibration strip is less than
it used to be (down to 1.57) plus the point on the curve where DMAX is
reached is lower.
 
My Portfolio Rag curve has been properly limited (the setting is quite
low actually) and the output properly linearized. The DMAX seems low
to me, although it is no longer that much below what I'm getting with
Soft Texture Art.
 
Terry.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "john dean"
<deanwork2003@...> wrote:
>
> That's what I just said. Limit your black channel or your going to
> loose dmax. It is over inking, just like everyone has been talking
> about here. It is definately going to happen with the ABM Epson driver
> or QTR if you aren't careful and aware of it. 
> 
> What I like about the paper is that is very smooth and sharp, much
> more so than Photorag for small prints. Premier Art Hotpress is also
> but for some reason it produces a strange reddish or bluish cast
> depending on the inkset used. I hate Premier Art for monochrome. I
> like the color of the Crane PR with sepia inks but I certainly
> wouldn't use it as my primary paper for neutral toned work.
> 
> Richard, how is the world are you getting a 1.72 dmax on Photorag with
> that inkset of yours? You must have put some dye in that black
> channel. I've never seen a pure pigment go that high on matte papers
> under the best conditions. The best I can get is 1.69 on a very good
> day. Are you seeing bronzing with your inks on the fiber gloss papers,
> or can one avoid the nasty sprays? 
> 
> john