I've been waiting for almost a year or ImagePrint support for the Canon ip5000 and it still isn't here. Looking around, I found that StudioPrint seems to offer what I am looking for. The big advantage I see with StudioPrint is the ability to linearize and set the ink densities for my printer and then generate profiles rather than relying upon canned profiles based on someone else's printer as with ImagePrint. Just based on this capability I am leaning strongly towards getting StudioPrint and not waiting any more for ImagePrint. It also appears to support a lot more printers and would allow me to set up a separate printer dedicated to B&W with a black inkset without additional license fees.

Does anyone have experience with StudioPrint that could shed some light on image quality with this product? 90% of my printing with the ipf5000 is color with the rest being the occasional B&W but I would like to do more B&W.

David, I am a Studioprint user on Epson printers. The program does allow you to control ink densities, which in my opinion is a huge factor towards obtaining the richest blacks and largest color gamut that you can. It is a Windows-only application, however, so if you are on a Mac you should think about how to support it.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Andy

Andy,

Thank you. That is encouraging. I was aware that Studioprint was Windows only and that isn't a problem. Aside from the gamut and blacks, how does it do on overall image quality such as resolution, banding in solid transition areas, etc.?

The one big problem I'm trying to get away from is the restrictions on which paper can be feed through a given path using the Canon drivers. The printer doesn't seem to care so I'm hoping a RIP will do away with this restriction. I realize that you probably can't answer this one but maybe someone with a 5000 will have an answer.

Dave

Good question. I have found, at least on an Epson 4000, that Studioprint can overcome these pain in the butt issues. This is a good reason to invest in a RIP, which not many people talk about.

Hi Andy

Since you mentioned richer blacks, I'd like to know if you can tell us any numbers. The best I can get on Hahnemuehle Photo Rag with a EPSON 4800 ist something about Dmax 1.65. On the HP B9180, it is about 1.75.
Will it be significantly more with StudioPrint?
My tests with ImagePrint and the canned profiles didn't show me deeper blacks than with my Eye One Profiles and the EPSON/HP drivers.

I like the matte papers very much, cause there are absolutely no reflections. But only semi-matte Papers like Hahnemuehle Fine Art Pearl or the new Photo Rag Pearl give me the blacks, contrast and colors I'd like to see.

Thanks in advance.
Andy - also