B&W Prints from Digital Image Files

[geecee]

As a Black and White fan from way back, I'm trying to get B & W photo quality prints from digital images. Does anyone have relevant experience?

It appears that most photo quality printers, from domestic ink jets to professional jobs use colour technology to print photo quality B & W. As a result it is difficult, if not impossible to get true blacks and greys. There is always a small (hopefully) colour cast in the result.

In theory there is no reason why you can't print with black ink or on to monochrome photo sensitised paper but is there sufficient demand to make this commercialy viable.

A second option is to get a negative made from my digital image. Can then print it myself using conventional photographics methods.

Graham

[slejhamer]

I haven't yet tried it as my printer is not compatible, but a pro who conducts classes at the Smithsonian recommended a Piezography system and special inks for "true" B&W.

Here's a link for some info, including workflows:
http://www.inkjetmall.com/store/piezographyBW.html

[jmark1949]

GREAT questions! I too love the look of silver halide prints out of the darkroom. But darkroom work takes too much time (for me) and I hate giving up the controls in photoshop. So I too am looking for a great way to get BW prints digitally.

Some sites I've found which I think might get me there as time allows.

www.inkjetmall.com (read jon cone articles)
www.cone-editions.com
www.imaging-resources.com

I recently saw some BW prints from an epson 2200 which were v v good. (not as good as darkroom, but darn good) Finding the right combination of printer profile, paper and ink... (and of course a nice image never hurts) seems to be the key.

Also... is it possible to make a bw neg from a digital file? If so, how?

[geecee]

I took a couple of greyscale files to a small pro lab near here. I don't know what the system is called but they print on photosensitive paper which I believe is similar to that used for conventional colour prints. The guy warned me that because it was colour paper there would be a slight colour cast. There was too (it was green) but it was better than I can get with my inkjet.

The same lab said they can make 35mm negs from files but admitted that they are not very good. (Why bother??)

Might try some bigger labs. Problem with them around therse parts is that they are not usually interested in small customers like me. Guess it's the same everywhere. :-(

Graham
Melbourne Australia

[Longwatcher]

I thought I would mention in this thread.

I finished a test run of different papers I ran in greyscale mode using the Canon S9000, It may be of interest. It is on same forum (different thread)