Digital BW, The Print

I want to get into B&W digital prints in a big way and have been 
reading about RIPs and other printing software programs.  I've heard 
great things about Epson's R2400 printer and their ability to print 
rich neutral blacks with their K3 inks.

Can anyone give me any recommendations on whether it's worthwhile to 
get any one of these software programs - Bowhaus IJC/OPM, ImagePrint 
RIP, Quadtone RIP, or Qimage?  Pros and cons?  Advantages and 
disadvantages?  What's absolute best if cost was not an issue?

Does IJC/OPM require a densitometer to use properly?  If so, that 
drives up the cost of the solution over and above ImagePrint.

Hello Clasia,

>I want to get into B&W digital prints in a big way and have been 
>reading about RIPs and other printing software programs.  I've heard 
>great things about Epson's R2400 printer and their ability to print 
>rich neutral blacks with their K3 inks.
> 
>Can anyone give me any recommendations on whether it's worthwhile to 
>get any one of these software programs - Bowhaus IJC/OPM, ImagePrint 
>RIP, Quadtone RIP, or Qimage?  Pros and cons?  Advantages and 
>disadvantages?  What's absolute best if cost was not an issue?

There is no simple answer this question (except that Qimage is not a
RIP like the others).  There are many ways to approach BW printing,
and the answer depends a lot on personal experience and preferences. 
It's sort of like saying "I'm getting my drivers license, what kind of
car should I buy?".  They all (Yugo, Chevy or Rolls) will get you to
work and back.  IMO it can only be answered by you, after some hands
on experience.  

The 2400/K3 truly is a great printer.  Since a RIP is not required to
produce top notch BW, I'd recommend just starting with that.  After
you have some actual experience all the things you read about here
will have more meaning and the answer to your question will emerge out
of the murk.  At some point you'll know what you want to do and you
can purchase a RIP whenever you're ready.


Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm

Hi Clasia,

As frustrating as it might be, Clayton is right.  You have to decide for yourself what works 
for you.  My recommendation is to get the 2400 and start printing with the Advanced Black 
and White portion of the Epson driver.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.  If 
something comes up that you are unable to accomplish with ABW, then evaluate some of 
the RIPs.  I will say that I'm very pleased using ABW with QTR create ICC - it's a real 
winning combination that several people on this forum are using.

Good luck.

Josh

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Clayton Jones" <cj@...> wrote:

>
> Hello Clasia,
> 
> >I want to get into B&W digital prints in a big way and have been 
> >reading about RIPs and other printing software programs.  I've heard 
> >great things about Epson's R2400 printer and their ability to print 
> >rich neutral blacks with their K3 inks.
> > 
> >Can anyone give me any recommendations on whether it's worthwhile to 
> >get any one of these software programs - Bowhaus IJC/OPM, ImagePrint 
> >RIP, Quadtone RIP, or Qimage?  Pros and cons?  Advantages and 
> >disadvantages?  What's absolute best if cost was not an issue?
> 
> There is no simple answer this question (except that Qimage is not a
> RIP like the others).  There are many ways to approach BW printing,
> and the answer depends a lot on personal experience and preferences. 
> It's sort of like saying "I'm getting my drivers license, what kind of
> car should I buy?".  They all (Yugo, Chevy or Rolls) will get you to
> work and back.  IMO it can only be answered by you, after some hands
> on experience.  
> 
> The 2400/K3 truly is a great printer.  Since a RIP is not required to
> produce top notch BW, I'd recommend just starting with that.  After
> you have some actual experience all the things you read about here
> will have more meaning and the answer to your question will emerge out
> of the murk.  At some point you'll know what you want to do and you
> can purchase a RIP whenever you're ready.
> 
> 
> Regards,
> Clayton
> 
> 
> Info on black and white digital printing at    
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
>