Re: digital darkroom

["shawnl@earthlink.net" <shawnl@earthlink.net>]

>I am going to put in a digital darkroom.  I have a HP colorsmart 35mm
>scanner and need some advice on a printer.  Can I use a good ink jet such
>as the new Epson printers or will I have to have die sub to get excellent
>results?

It depends.  If you're looking for gallery quality prints, you're going 
to have to use a die sublimation printer.  I don't know if you have the 
resources to buy one for yourself, but their use is readily available 
through service bureaus.  The downside for those printers, despite their 
excellent quality, is their high cost per page.  Some of the 
higher-resolution inkjet printers such as the Epsons and the newer HPs 
turn out photo-quality result, but show minor speckling and do not have 
as high a quality as the die sub printers.  On the other hand, the cost 
per page is usually pennies, although to get the best quality possible 
you should invest in the special purpose inkjet photo paper, which is 
coated to prevent the ink dots from spreading (costs about 50 cents per 
page).

>Also I have an old version of Aldus Photo Styler but should I up date to
>new software?  If so what do you recommend?  Adobe Photoshop?  Is anyone
>using PhotoImpact 3.0

I use Photoshop for my work on a newspaper and feel this to be the 
definitive digital manipulation program.  It handles all popular file 
formats with great tools and a relatively easy to use interface given the 
complexity and power of the program.  I do not have experience with any 
of the other programs you mentioned, but I do know that in the industry 
all of the other software companies are playing catch up with Adobe on 
that one.