Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/10/31

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Subject: [Leica] Scanning and Printing Input
From: "tlianza" <tlianza@mediaone.net>
Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 16:51:31 -0500

Hi,

I have a Nikon 4000 and an Epson 1200 that I use with an external inking
system using Generations Ink.  I didn't buy the Epson 2000 because I felt
that the gamut was a bit too limited for good reproduction.  I don't need
200 year reproduction, 25-50 works fine for me.

My workflow is almost exclusively negative media, scanned on the ls 4000.
If  you go to my site,

www.lianza.org/tlphotos/

All the images on the site are scanned from negative media on an ls2000.  I
just got the 4000 and it is a fine scanner.  I use a lot of fuji 800 and in
high lighting I use Kodak Portra 160 VC or NC .  I like the Kodak portra
line because it is a joy in the dark room.  I often use the Portra BW  film
and it scans and prints beautifully.  The fuji 800 is a great film for mixed
lighting situations and it offers good color rendition.  I've used it
outside under clouds and it offers a great degree of latitude and it is
finer grained than most 400 BW emulsions.

If you like high gloss images, the pigmented inks are not for you.  I use a
lot of fine art paper and it works quite well.  When testing media, I print
a number of images through the range of profiles supplied with the printer.
I start with the one that looks best and use the manual trims that are
available within the Epson print driver.  I have not settled on a particular
paper ink combination, but I always use the Generations Inks. This limits
one variable.  I found good repeatibility between various types of mat fine
art papers, but be aware that these papers are quite Expensive.  On the
other hand, you do own a Leica, so you probably have a good handle on
"expensive".  Some of the papers I use are between 4 and 8 dollars a sheet
(13X19).  The ink costs are pretty minimal when using the bulk inks.  The
installation of the Bulk inking system is not simple and it can be quite
messy.

I still have my darkroom and for prints to 20X24 that's where I head....

Hope some of this helps.


Tom Lianza
Technical Director
Sequel Imaging Inc.
25 Nashua Rd.
Londonderry, NH 03053
tlianza@sequelimaging.com

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