Hi Paul,
I just checked it again. Here is my set up this time:
I printed out an A4 portrait scan on Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper with my Epson 1290.
The portait was made with my Contax N1 and the 24-85 @85 and 4.5 aperture. Distance ca. 50cm to the face. Fuji Provia 100F rated -1/3. Scanned with Nikon Supercoolscan 4000 at 4000 ppi, ICE=fine, no color management by Nikon 3.1 scanner software.
I opened the file in PS 7 no usage of embedded colour manaagement of the photo, no colour management made after that in Photoshop, no level adjustments, only unsharpening - for both prints the same level.
I used the newest ICC profiles in PS 7 available for the Epson 1290 from the Epson site in the download section.
I saved my own "proof-settings" in PS 7 with this ICC Epson profile and paper, I did choose "perceptive" and checked also "Tiefenkompensierung verwenden" (I do not know the name in English for that - something with depth compression).
Then I selected print with preview. In that pop up window I selected "show further options" and in the drop-down menu below "colour management". There I did choose again the ICC Epson 1290 profile for the Premium Photo Glossy paper and depth compression.
I did press then print and in the new printer window I went into the preferences for the printer.
There I did choose the Premium Glossy paper, mode= manual (user settings). Again a new window.
I checked there quality: 1440dpi for the first print, 2880dpi for the second one.
No bidirectional printing to get the maximum quality (according to Epson), and I checked the box for "... borders" (last box).
On the upper right hand: no colour management. Then saving all settings. Paper size A4 and print.
The result of the two prints is that I can not see with my naked eye any differences on this size, except a very slight colour shift in the reds, which is unimportant. I doubt that I could see a difference on A3. I made a similar test on A3 long time ago, when I purchased the printer and based on that test, I concluded for myself that 2880 is not at all necessary.
If you found a way to achieve differences between 2880 and 1440, I would be happy to try your working flow. Better results are always welcome
I just checked it again. Here is my set up this time:
I printed out an A4 portrait scan on Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper with my Epson 1290.
The portait was made with my Contax N1 and the 24-85 @85 and 4.5 aperture. Distance ca. 50cm to the face. Fuji Provia 100F rated -1/3. Scanned with Nikon Supercoolscan 4000 at 4000 ppi, ICE=fine, no color management by Nikon 3.1 scanner software.
I opened the file in PS 7 no usage of embedded colour manaagement of the photo, no colour management made after that in Photoshop, no level adjustments, only unsharpening - for both prints the same level.
I used the newest ICC profiles in PS 7 available for the Epson 1290 from the Epson site in the download section.
I saved my own "proof-settings" in PS 7 with this ICC Epson profile and paper, I did choose "perceptive" and checked also "Tiefenkompensierung verwenden" (I do not know the name in English for that - something with depth compression).
Then I selected print with preview. In that pop up window I selected "show further options" and in the drop-down menu below "colour management". There I did choose again the ICC Epson 1290 profile for the Premium Photo Glossy paper and depth compression.
I did press then print and in the new printer window I went into the preferences for the printer.
There I did choose the Premium Glossy paper, mode= manual (user settings). Again a new window.
I checked there quality: 1440dpi for the first print, 2880dpi for the second one.
No bidirectional printing to get the maximum quality (according to Epson), and I checked the box for "... borders" (last box).
On the upper right hand: no colour management. Then saving all settings. Paper size A4 and print.
The result of the two prints is that I can not see with my naked eye any differences on this size, except a very slight colour shift in the reds, which is unimportant. I doubt that I could see a difference on A3. I made a similar test on A3 long time ago, when I purchased the printer and based on that test, I concluded for myself that 2880 is not at all necessary.
If you found a way to achieve differences between 2880 and 1440, I would be happy to try your working flow. Better results are always welcome