2 replies to this topic

[Elisabetta]

Dear Amadou,

I'm an italian photographer and I've decided to convert my traditional darkroom into a digital one. The aim is to buy the necessary tools in order to obtain the same quality (or a better one if it would be possible) of my "old" prints on baryta paper with selenium toner.
At the same time I'd also like to get good color outputs from the files that my Canon 5D DSRL produces.

I've read your book and I find it really useful to people who want to commit themselves but need some help (perhaps a lot of) in understanding a completely new kind of approach. Before reading it I was afraid it was impossible for me to understand the mysteries of digital workflow, but now everything seems to be more comprehensible.

I apologize for disturbing you but I'm going to buy some items and I need advice on the choice I have to make.

I have bought an Epson Stylus 3800 printer and for the moment I want to run it with K3 inks in order to be able to get also colour prints.
I'm going to buy another printer (perhaps an Epson 1800 printer) to run it only for BW with Piezography or MIS inks.

Reading your book I saw that you use StudioPrint 12 RIP and I have two answers about it:

1) for StudioPrint only works on Windows and I have a PowerBook G4 with 1 GB RAM (the second slot doesn't work) and 80GB HD, which of the following choices do you think is better:
– I run StudioPrint on my Mac notebook (or another that I have to buy) with a windows emulation.
– I run StudioPrint on a PC, acting as a printer server, linked to the Mac by an Ethernet cable (in this case have I to buy another Adobe Photoshop for the PC?)
– Are there other solutions?

2) if I have understood this RIP doesn't allow you to profile and you use for this aim PrintFIX PRO. Is it better for top quality prints to buy the latter or could I get the same with the package of Gretag Eye One Photo (I've already bought it )?

Hoping your answers will be helpful to others too,
thank you very much
Elisabetta Buffa

[adiallo]

Elisabetta, on Jan 8 2008, 09:06 AM, said:

Reading your book I saw that you use StudioPrint 12 RIP and I have two answers about it:

1) for StudioPrint only works on Windows and I have a PowerBook G4 with 1 GB RAM (the second slot doesn't work) and 80GB HD, which of the following choices do you think is better:
– I run StudioPrint on my Mac notebook (or another that I have to buy) with a windows emulation.
– I run StudioPrint on a PC, acting as a printer server, linked to the Mac by an Ethernet cable (in this case have I to buy another Adobe Photoshop for the PC?)
– Are there other solutions?

2) if I have understood this RIP doesn't allow you to profile and you use for this aim PrintFIX PRO. Is it better for top quality prints to buy the latter or could I get the same with the package of Gretag Eye One Photo (I've already bought it )?

StudioPrint is an expensive option, and if you're just starting out with a digital system the learning curve can be steep. So for an Epson 1800 (or similar) I would suggest trying QTR first. It's $50, works with both Piezography and MIS inks, and you can either linearize (depending on the inkset) and/or create profiles for any paper you like by using your Eye One. The QTR documentation could use an overhaul, but there's a great online user group where you can always get help with questions.

[joshhackney]

adiallo, on Jan 8 2008, 10:04 AM, said:

I would suggest trying QTR first. It's $50, works with both Piezography and MIS inks, and you can either linearize (depending on the inkset) and/or create profiles for any paper you like by using your Eye One. The QTR documentation could use an overhaul, but there's a great online user group where you can always get help with questions.

I think you will be very pleased with QTR and the K7 selenium inks. They are beautiful.