Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]
Alastair Firkin wrote:
>
>I've finally replaced my computer's printer with an Epson Photo700. Initial
>colour prints from it are really quite amazing, but I have some questions
>for you.
I'm still running on the original Epson Photo Stylus, and find the quality
excellent. But beware - these mothers _eat_ colour cartridges if you proof
at full A4 size. Bit like the old Gillette principle - sell the razor
cheap, and make a bomb on the blades.
>
>1. Resolution; what resolution is needed to print at the 1440 dpi setting?
>I've trialled images at 200 dpi in photoshop and the images print quite
>well, but are there any rules for this digital darkroom?
First rule is that there are no rules - it depends on the subject and the
quality you want.
The best practical guide I've discovered on the mysteries of resolution is
Wayne Fulton's "A Few Scanning Tips", available from:
http://www.scantips.com
The guts of it are available as web pages, but he also publishes it in
extended book form at a very reasonable price. To save ink, get the book -
there's a secure ordering form on the site.
>2. Longevity; how long do the prints last, and are there any tricks to
>resist fading?
Too early to tell - mine are fine after a year in daylight, but would
probably last longer if kept in the dark.
>
>Finally, do you have any other tricks to minimize wastage of ink paper etc.
>For example, do you do test prints prior to a full A4 sheet?
You could try printing a small, critical area at your intended output
resolution. If that's OK, the full-size print should be OK. Use exactly the
same paper in a smaller size, though, as colours vary immensely according
the quality of the stock. For really knock-out results which do full
justice to your Leica lenses, don't use paper at all - use white plastic
film which doesn't suffer from any ink spread whatsoever. Expensive, but
worth it.
Happy printing!
Slan
Alex
Alex Hurst
Waterfall
Nr. Cork
Ireland
Tel: +353 21 543 328 (H)
+352 21 270 907 (W)
Fax: +353 21 271 248
email: corkflor@iol.ie
Home website: http://homepages.iol.ie/~corkflor/
Business website: http://www.flowerlink.com/corkflorists