New HP Z2100 and Z3100 printers

[JeffKohn]

Jeff, I should add to this that I did do a test for several images where quartertone detail was important to me - i.e. the bottom quartile of the luminosity scale. I printed them on my Epson 4800, took the same files to one of our premier prographics shops in Toronto where they sell ImagePrint and demonstrate it. We ran the same files using ImagePrint on their test set-up, the dealer and I were agreed that it was very hard to see ANY significant difference in image quality between my results and theirs. I´m not knocking ImagePrint - I think it facilitates certain kinds of workflow that numerous professionals would find very efficient and useful to have. It will be less useful to others who don´t need those features. All I´m saying is that one should not dismiss the Epson printer driver and profiles out of hand. They can yield very, very good results.
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I'm printing on a 2400 so I won't presume to speak for the 4800. I can tell you that rag paper profiles created for the 2400 in ICM mode have mucked up shadow tones (particularly greens and browns) that are very similar to what's discussed here: [a href=\"http://www.gamutvision.com/docs/smudged_pines.html]http://www.gamutvision.com/docs/smudged_pines.html[/url]. Using Color Controls mode and the right media type largely eliminates the problem in most cases (but not all).

I can also say that in the case of B/W printing on matte/rag papers, I can get much better linearity and shadow details using custom curves with Quadtone RIP than I can with any approach using the Epson driver, including ABW mode or custom profiles made in ICM or Color Controls mode.

With a high-DMAX paper such as Innova F-Type these issues pretty much go away, but the 2400 driver leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to matte papers.

[Mark D Segal]

I'm printing on a 2400 so I won't presume to speak for the 4800. I can tell you that rag paper profiles created for the 2400 in ICM mode have mucked up shadow tones (particularly greens and browns) that are very similar to what's discussed here: http://www.gamutvision.com/docs/smudged_pines.html. Using Color Controls mode and the right media type largely eliminates the problem in most cases (but not all).

I can also say that in the case of B/W printing on matte/rag papers, I can get much better linearity and shadow details using custom curves with Quadtone RIP than I can with any approach using the Epson driver, including ABW mode or custom profiles made in ICM or Color Controls mode.

With a high-DMAX paper such as Innova F-Type these issues pretty much go away, but the 2400 driver leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to matte papers.
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[Mark D Segal]

I'm printing on a 2400 so I won't presume to speak for the 4800. I can tell you that rag paper profiles created for the 2400 in ICM mode have mucked up shadow tones (particularly greens and browns) that are very similar to what's discussed here: http://www.gamutvision.com/docs/smudged_pines.html. Using Color Controls mode and the right media type largely eliminates the problem in most cases (but not all).

I can also say that in the case of B/W printing on matte/rag papers, I can get much better linearity and shadow details using custom curves with Quadtone RIP than I can with any approach using the Epson driver, including ABW mode or custom profiles made in ICM or Color Controls mode.

With a high-DMAX paper such as Innova F-Type these issues pretty much go away, but the 2400 driver leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to matte papers.
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Jeff, several points here:

(1) I don´t know how it works on the 2400, but the way we use the 4800 with the Epson driver is to select NO COLOR MANAGEMENT in the printer driver, and LET PHOTOSHOP DETERMINE COLORS in Photoshop Print with Preview preferences.

(2) Matte papers are a challenge in the deep dark areas whatever the software. That much said if the Quadtone RIP with a custom profile gives you better results than the driver, perhaps this is something I should look at, as ImagePrint didn´t do it for me.

(3) I agree Innova F-Type is a good way to solve this problem, except that it costs a fortune to switch back and forth on the Epson 4800 (major design flaw), which is why I´m going to switch either to an HP 9180 or an Epson 3800 once enough time has passed with both on the market to make an informed choice.

Best,

Mark

[Middleman]

Dear all,

I want to stress that the views I said earlier about the printers are of my own, and clearly do not reflect the views of Chaudigital as a company.

Throughout the last few years we have sold Epson products for example, Epson I have to truthfully say, has provided more than sufficient support for us as a dealer. On technical queries, which at times were difficult, the staff there have always been there to help either with me or my customers, and this credit I feel must be given both to the company, to the distributors involved and staff, especially the staff. I apologise to them for the remarks I had made about their products, as a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to make the machines the way they are. Chaudigital as a company at the forefront of technology, is committed to the Epson brand, likewise with all our other brand channel partners, and will continue to do so to the nearest possible future.


Jason Chau