[Leica] back to printing

[kcarney1 at cox.net (Ken Carney)]

I'm making an effort to get back to printing.  I think I've printed more 
in the last few weeks than in the last few years (darkroom closed about 
5-6 years ago).   For b&w, I'm printing on Epson Velvet Fine Art 13x19 
with the QuadTone RIP software, with the curves set to slightly warm 
(55% warm curve, 45% cool curve, not split-toned).   One epiphany was 
that I didn't have to mat and frame every image - a 13x19 portfolio 
box(es) with interleaf tissues works fine (the matte paper is very 
fragile).    Here are two from today that I have not printed since the 
darkroom days:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/kcarney/angel.jpg.html

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/kcarney/mesa+verde.jpg.html

As I recall, the "angel" photo was with a CV rangefinder and Nokton 50mm 
1.5 lens.  The photo of the ruins at Mesa Verde was with a Linhof 
Technica and, I think, a 210mm Schneider lens and TMax 100 4x5 developed 
in TMax developer 1:9.  I like both of the prints better than what I 
could do in the darkroom.

I'm still not sure what to do about color.  My copy of ImagePrint RIP is 
for XP, and it is unable to find my printer (even though attached and 
not shared) in virtual XP in Windows 7.  Plus it is 6 years old and no 
doubt the paper profiles have changed over the years.  I guess bite the 
bullet and buy profiling gear.

C&C welcome as always.

Ken Carney
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma