B & W Greyscale Images: Convert to RGB Before Printing or No?

[Alan Smithee]

I want to print B&W images from B&W negs to my Epson printer. I have been
scanning negs as 16-bit grayscale using my scanning software, doing my
levels, dust, contrast and sharpness adjustments in 16 bit grey also. When I
eventually go to print something out it is safer to convert the image to an
8-bit RGB file then send it to the printer? Do the paper profiles made for
most printers assume you are sending an RGB file? Does the driver react
differently to a greyscale file? Thx.

 

[measekite]

Use photoshop

 

[Jim]

I want to print B&W images from B&W negs to my Epson printer. I have been
scanning negs as 16-bit grayscale using my scanning software, doing my
levels, dust, contrast and sharpness adjustments in 16 bit grey also. When
I
eventually go to print something out it is safer to convert the image to
an
8-bit RGB file then send it to the printer? Do the paper profiles made for
most printers assume you are sending an RGB file? Does the driver react
differently to a greyscale file? Thx.

PS must convert the greyscale image to RGB because that is what the printer
driver expects. However, you should instruct the printer driver to print
greyscale. If you don't, you can expect color shifts from time to time
because CMY inks will not print pure black.
Jim

 

[Alan Smithee]

PS must convert the greyscale image to RGB because that is what the
printer driver expects. However, you should instruct the printer
driver to print greyscale. If you don't, you can expect color shifts
from time to time because CMY inks will not print pure black.
Jim

Using the "Black Ink Only" option produces mediocre results on my Epson
printer. On some media I get banding so I've always tended to avoid that
setting. I send my B&W's to the printer using the driver's "color" mode.
This way I can utilize the full resolution capabilities of the printer head.
On occasion I've applied split toning or duo toning which is only possible
in colour mode.
I guess my question is more about how the driver deals with a black and
white image when sent as greyscale as opposed to B & W. Do all editing
applications have to convert a greyscale image to RGB? Or does the driver do
this interpretation? And what of "Black Ink Only"? How does it deal with an
RGB image or Greyscaled image? Sorry it's making me ask more questions. Thx.

 

[Alan Smithee]

Use photoshop

I am using CS2

 

[Yianni]

Do the paper profiles made for

most printers assume you are sending an RGB file? Does the driver react
differently to a greyscale file?

I'm not sure, but I don't think so. I suspect, the printer would treat RGB
and graysclale images the same way (or at least a similar way).

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I don't know specifically what the driver does. Some Epson drivers off
a Blank Ink only mode. The conversion to black and white in something
like Photoshop is more complex than it appears if you wish to balance
the total range properly. The Channel mixer may help with this to help
translate the color to a representative tonal range the way certain
color filters vary B&W results.

Since each Epson printer model has a different approach to converting
the file to the bitmap and raster, I suggest testing several options and
find which works best.

Art

 

[me]

Using the "Black Ink Only" option produces mediocre results on my Epson
printer. On some media I get banding so I've always tended to avoid that
setting. I send my B&W's to the printer using the driver's "color" mode.
This way I can utilize the full resolution capabilities of the printer head.
On occasion I've applied split toning or duo toning which is only possible
in colour mode.
I guess my question is more about how the driver deals with a black and
white image when sent as greyscale as opposed to B & W. Do all editing
applications have to convert a greyscale image to RGB? Or does the driver do
this interpretation? And what of "Black Ink Only"? How does it deal with an
RGB image or Greyscaled image? Sorry it's making me ask more questions. Thx.

If you are doing a lot of this it might be worth looking into getting a
set of black inks, I'm sure someone here will be able to provide more
details, but I think Lyson can provide a set of different blacks, to
replace the colour cartridges.

Or get a printer with a variable intensity of black dot (eg: a laser
with toner and developer (although in newer models the two will be
combined))