We use now ImagePrint for our Epson 7500/7600 printers
since about three years:
ImagePrint is now in version 6 and also supports the
HP Designjet 30/90/130 printers.
Main new features in V6.0
Image browser 
IP 6.0 Image Browser
The Image browser makes our life much
easier to locate the right pictures.
Split tones
Toning was always a major strength of
ImagePrint for B&W prints. Some artists prefer to tone the shadows
differently than the highlights. ImagePrint 6 allows just that:
Split Tones
You define different shadow and highlight
tints. The "Tints Blend" factor then decides (0-100) where there is
a transition from shadow to highlight tint.
ImagePrint V6 for HP Designjet 30/90/130
This is a big news as now you can make
first rate B&W photos on your HP Designjet printers. We compared
prints made with dedicated three blacks on the HP
8450 and found the prints with ImagePrint on the DJ30
an excellent match. But differently from the 8450 ImagePrint also gives
you full control over the tint (the 8450 does not, but produces nice
neutral images). It is just amazing how well ImagePrint produces B&W
with just one black. Needless to say that the deep black of the Designjet
printers help a lot with excellent B&W prints.
ImagePrint also uses the HP Designjet
calibration tool (built into the printer) to improve the printer calibration:
HP printer calibration
The calibration is performed per paper
type and quality setting (we use best quality and Premium Photo Plus
Satin paper).
Why would you use ImagePrint and not
the printer drivers?
a) For B&W this is not really a question.
We hardly see a way to get close with other solutions compared to ImagePrint.
Not only quality counts here. ImagePrint is ready to use right after
installation as it comes with a complete matched set of profiles.
b) For color the answer is slightly more
complicated. The HP drivers can deliver very good results. On the other
end ImagePrint provides ready to use profiles that also are created
for different viewing light conditions.
We find the profiles delivered
for ImagePrint very good. Also with ImagePrint you don't have to
worry about drivers (e.g. Epson 2200, 7600, 9600) that are highly nonlinear
and make profiling a challenge. We have seen photos where other profiles
had issues with high saturated images and IP 6 just printed fine. Image
print uses 16 bit screening (most drivers all are 8 bit at
best) which can halp with smooth transitions and subtle tonalities.
In the end all comes down to a very pleasant
printing experience which can get lost in all these driver and profile
hassles.
At our 2004 Summit we used ImagePrint
6 for all the prints made for attendees. Over a 2 day period many different
photos were printed on a selection of papers. The experience was that
ImagePrint did a really good job in all cases.
Yes, ImagePrint in not a cheap(*) software
but if printing is important to you ImagePrint should be on your short
list.
Highly Recommended
(*) Many compare the prices of printers
to the software. You should understand that printers are highly discounted
to sell inks and papers (that is where the money is).
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