Subject: [Leica] Epson Photo EX Trick -Reply

[Gareth Jolly <gareth.jolly@minters.com.au>]

Bob Rose wrote:

>Gareth,

>I have the HP Photosmart and the Epson Photo EX and get
fantastic >results in black & white.  The trick is to print
in color.  In other words, >when you send the file to the
printer, be sure you select "color" not >"black & white" in
the options.

>What software are you using for the image processing?

>Using this combination I have an 11x17 b&w image from a
TMax400 CN >negative using the 35mm Summicron ASPH that is
just about >indistinguishable from a wet print.

>Your LS 20 & Photo EX should give killer results.

It gives very good results and I'm very impressed with it. 
I use Photoshop 5.  I'm very pleased to have made the
purchase of the system - it's massively increased my output
and its quality.

To me, though, the results fall short of a fine print using
fibre based paper and a high quality enlarger, such as a
Leitz.  Of course, it also takes a long time to produce a
fine print - it would take me a minimum of an hour to get a
good working print, then probably a few more sessions to
work on refining the final print.

There is a richness about fibre based papers which I haven't
yet come across in inkjet papers.  Epson paper is by far the
best in my experience.

As far as a print on resin with an average enlarger (say, an
Ilford or LPL), the comparison becomes a lot closer. 
There's not a lot in it - although I still tend to think the
points I made in my previous email hold but to a lesser
degree.

I also tend to think some films work better in a darkroom
(e.g T Max 3200).  And difficult to print negatives.  I
think you can capture a greater tonality in a darkroom print
in difficult negatives - at least with my LS20.  An LS 2000,
with the extra bits of scan information, might make all the
difference here.  

As to printing using colour inks, I've tried it and it's not
really to my tastes. It gives a warm tone (i.e brown tone)
to prints - similar to using a warm tone paper or developer.
 In darkroom printing, I like a cooler tone.  But it's a
personal matter of course.  And some images work better with
a warmer tone.

What sort of darkroom prints are you comparing them to, if
you don't mind me asking?  Did you print them yourself or
use a commercial printer?  Are they printed on resin or
fibre?

Regards
Gareth