Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/10/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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 - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html