Digital BW, The Print

I too want to chime in that the HP 7960 just might be a more 
significant 'development' than it has gotten credit for.  I know that 
some on this group are just plain skeptical of dye and paper as opposed 
to ink on cotton, but if the Wilhelm rating is 70+ years in both color 
and B&W  isn't that worth looking into?  Remember that you also get NO 
metamerism and can 'plug and play' right from the box with no RIP.  All 
for $299.
What's really needed is for someone (Paul?) to confirm these findings 
and to run test on non-HP papers.  What would be the fade time on EEM 
or Velvet?
In the meantime if early reviews are accurate this little guy leads the 
pack in B&W quality with perhaps the new Epson r800 (as yet unseen by 
most) a 'dark horse' contender.  Am I missing something?
ML

Marcel,

>I too want to chime in that the HP 7960 just might be a more
>significant 'development' than it has gotten credit for.
>I know that some on this group are just plain skeptical
>of dye and paper as opposed
>to ink on cotton, but if the Wilhelm rating is
>70+ years in both color and B&W  isn't that worth
>looking into?  ...

>What's really needed is for someone (Paul?)
>to confirm these findings and to run test on non-HP papers.

I think MIS is going to send an HP to me for that very purpose.  I'll run
some comparative fade tests, etc.

>What would be the fade time on EEM or Velvet?

I read somewhere that without the swellable-surface, special paper the
display life is just like any other dye -- just several years.  I'll test
some of these other papers also if MIS sends a printer.

>In the meantime if early reviews are accurate
>this little guy leads the pack in B&W quality
>with perhaps the new Epson r800 (as yet unseen by
>most) a 'dark horse' contender.  ...

"Speaking" of quality, I printed the 256-step test file with the C82 and the
MIS pigments in it.  The only deviations from a perfect ramp were that 254
printed white, and the deep shadows are compressed.  0 & 1 (out of 256
steps) are both at the dmax, 2 & 3 measure as the same but lighter than the
dmax, and 3 & 4 measure the same but lighter yet.  Then the ramp is smooth
and appropriately separated all the way up.  So, aside from doubling up one
step at the top and 3 steps at the bottom end, this is a perfect ramp --
quite an achievement for $69 and archival pigments with a display life
multiples of the HP's on a variety of papers.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com

I guess I've gotten overly excited by the HP.  There still is the issue of lack of color 
cast as compared to the Epson pigment printers.  I think I understand that the C82 
can be used without photoshop but if one prefers to use PS do you think the c82 or 
the r800 will be the better choice? It seems that it's probably too early to know.  As 
you can no doubt tell, I'm about to make a purchase and am hoping for an out of the 
box solution for both color and B&W.
thanks,
Marcello
P.S. Has anyone seen the output from the R800?