amadou_diallo

Dan,

If your monitor is not calibrated and profiled you're chasing your tail with either

workflow. Systems like LaCie and the Sony Artisan that come with matched hardware

calibrators offer the best color fidelity. Unfortunately real WYSIWYG is not an

inexpensive proposition, nor is it as simple as the marketing hype would have you

beleive. But it is possible to a degree that greatly enhances color critical work.

Just a reply to Cris's concern about varying neg densities. Using a flatbed, scan the

contact sheet for "average" contrast. Open in Photoshop, select a frame with the

marqee tool, and perform needed levels or curves adjustments. Repeat for other

frames as needed and you've got a contact sheet optimized for each image.

 

>>Using a flat-bed (with transparency hood) like this is fine if all the negs are

correctly exposed and of similar density, but having previously produced

conventional contact sheets I know how difficult it can be to assess the viability of an

image that hasn't printed properly as it was too thin/dense compared to the others

on the roll.>>

For almost 3 years now I've been using the Epson 1680 w/transparency adapter. I

initially bought it to scan 4x5s. Since then I've graduated to drum scanning but the

1680 is indispensible for making full size contact sheets for 35mm, MF and LF film.

Quality is good and it's very fast.

As mentioned by an earlier post, the Sony for $1700 includes the calibrator--a must

for any imaging involving color matching and printing. The Lacie calibrator adds $500

to the price you quoted. I've used the Lacie w/calibrator for the last 3 years and have

had accurate, consistent results. The newly released Sony Artisan seems to be the

monitor of choice now for color gurus like Bruce Fraser, Andrew Rodney, etc seeking

the last 3-5% of color fidelity. More important than choosing between either of these

professional monitor/calibrators is establishing a proper viewing environment.

Minimize ambient light, use the monitor hood, calibrate regularly, and use a color

corrected light source when comparing prints to onscreen images. Failure to do so

will negate all the advantages of using professional tools like these monitors.

 

Amadou Diallo

Before you buy a new printer, have you had a custom profile built for your 1280

with the Gen 5 inks? I've been using these inks on a 1270, with a profile built by

chromix.com for Epson's premium semi gloss. You may be surprised at the output

difference a well built profile makes, and the profile is $100. Very fair, as prices go.

 

Switching to a 2200 would primarily benefit Epson to the tune of $700.

 

Amadou Diallo

Short answer: No

 

Medium answer:

The monitor and working space gammas serve completely different functions.

Choice of monitor gamma is determined by the setting that allows your unit to

display the smoothest possible gradations. Make or download a greyscale gradient

from 0% (white) to 100% (black). Determine whether calibrating to 1.8, 2.2, or

somewhere in between, shows the least banding/posterization/harsh breaks,

particularly in the shadow regions.

 

Working spaces are grey balanced, one of the reasons for their existence. Use of a

1.8 space like ColorMatch or a 2.2 one like sRGB is determined by your primary

output method. One school of thought is to find a space that displays nearly all of

the colors you can output, without an abundance of colors you cannot output.

Assuming you have a calibrated and profiled display (preferably through a

hardware device), there's no "right" combination of monitor gamma and working

space, only one that fits your workflow. And two calibrated, profiled monitors, set

to different gammas should show very similar images when viewed in the same

working space.

 

Long answer:

Check out Real World Color Management by Bruce Fraser, Chris Murphy and Fred

Bunting. Indispensible reading.

 

Amadou Diallo

B&H offers a 14 day return on used equipment and generally informative employees. At Adorama you tend to get more banged up stuff, therefore lower prices (high-pressure sales tactics though). I've had a very good experience with Wall St. Camera. Their used prices aren't the lowest but that works in your favor when selling to them and they have a decidely low-pressure sales approach.