Black And White Digital Printing Part 3b

Photoshop Settings

When Photoshop first encounters a new grayscale image it automatically assigns it a default image profile. This profile determines how the image will be displayed on the screen (in terms of contrast and density). We have the ability to control what profile is used as the default.

Photoshop supplies seven profiles for grayscale images: 5 Dot Gain profiles and two Gray Gamma profiles. I recommend using the Dot Gain 20% profile as the default because it is in the middle of the brightness range of all the choices and is a close match to the Gamma 1.8 printer setting (mentioned below). This combination produces good WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). It is a good starting point and works well with most images. So the first step here will be to create a Color Setting in Photoshop that will make these profiles the program defaults.

NOTE: All references to Photoshop are referring to version CS. In the latest CS2 version some of these names may have changed.

1) The initial profile the image will have assigned to it is determined by which Color Setting is in force in Photoshop at the time. Here's how to create a Color Setting that will handle the assignment the way we want:

a) Open the Color Settings dialog

         (PC Menu: "Edit/Color Settings").

b) Choose "US Prepress Defaults" from the Settings picklist (we aren't preparing our images for a printing press, but this canned setting has
everything we want already defined).

By setting these defaults we are ensuring that any images scanned as gray scale or converted from a digital camera file will automatically be assigned the Dot Gain 20% profile. Any RGB scans will get the Adobe Gamma (1998) profile. I refer to this assigned image profile as the "front end" because it immediately affects how the image looks on screen.

c) Click "OK" to confirm the choice and close the window.

2) When it's time to print there is one more important setting to check, in the Print Preview Window (a grayscale image must be open to do this)

     (PC Menu: Files/Print With Preview...)

where we must choose a printer profile. Check "Show More Options", and choose "Color Management" from the first picklist in the bottom section. In the "Profile" picklist choose "Same As Source" (I am told that in CS2 this is called "No Color Management"). Then click "Print" to save this setting and go to the normal Print dialog. Once you have printed a grayscale image with this setting it will remain as the default for all grayscale images.

I refer to this printer profile as the "back end" because it affects the image pixels as they are sent to the printer.

So we always have two profiles at work: the front end, which governs how the image looks on screen, and the back end, which affects how it looks in the print. Note: Article #4 , "Using Color Settings And Profiles", contains more detailed information on this subject. This is recommended reading for a fuller understanding of the subject.

Printing BO With The Epson 2200

The Epson 2200 is an excellent BO printer. It has a unique dither pattern and very fine droplets which produce a smooth texture, surpassed only by the Epson 4000. As of this writing it has been discontinued and replaced by the 2400 (which cannot do BO printing without a RIP). There are still many 2200s to be found in stores and also factory refurbished units with full warranty are available. Here are the driver settings I use with MIS Eboni ink:

Paper setting = Enhanced Matte Paper (works great for all matte papers)

Resolution = SuperPhoto 2880 dpi

High Speed is checked (slow speed doesn't improve quality with this printer)

Black Ink Only is Checked

Color Control = gamma 1.8 (this setting produces a print density that is the closest match to the initial image, requiring fewer changes to the image)

Contrast/brightness sliders are at 0

Printing BO With The Epson R200

The Epson R200 is a very good BO printer for letter size paper. It is not quite as smooth as the 2200, but still produces an excellent result. Here are the driver settings I use for BO printing with MIS Eboni ink:

Paper setting = Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper (best BO quality on all matte papers)

Quality = Best Photo

High Speed is off (slow speed does improve quality; use high speed for proofs)

Black Ink Only is Checked

Color Control = gamma 1.8 (this setting produces a print density that is the closest match to the initial image, requiring fewer changes to the image)

Contrast/brightness sliders are at 0

Tips

Keep your paper in a clean, sealed container until ready to use. Dust prevents ink from attaching to the paper. It flakes off later leaving white specks. Doesn't hurt to keep a can of Dust-Off to
blow across the paper just before a final print.

Keep the printer covered when not being used. Dust can be a problem. Vacuum frequently around the work area.

SpotTone can be used successfully on EEM, where it behaves very much like on gelatin emulsion. It doesn't behave as nicely on PR, but may still be used with care. I haven't tried it on other papers.

Most matte papers have some flaking problems, some more than others. A good remedy is to firmly wipe the paper with a soft cloth, such as an old T-shirt, followed by a burst of dry compressed air (I use Dust Off).

Immediate handling of a fresh print seems to increase chances of
flaking. If it's a final print, hang it up to dry and leave it alone for awhile.

Even though BO printing uses only black ink, the color cartridges will slowly get used up. This is caused by the cleaning cycles which the printer does periodically, and any which you do yourself. If a color cartridge is empty you can't print, so be sure to keep extras on hand.

Store your spare cartridges right side up, and if possible, tilted slightly toward the nozzle end. This will ensure the ink is settled properly and helps prevent air or vacuum traps and clogs.