Digital BW, The Print

>You mentioned using the inks from the Epson 10600 series.
>Isn't that a different ink than UC and not as archival?

I think you'll find the UC ink for the large printers is the same, but the
LK is not used.  See
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/BuyInk.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=2296669
0 .  Check the MSDS's to be sure they are the same.  These are listed at
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/Supportmsdsmain.jsp?BV_UseBVCooki
e=yes    

The 500 ml carts are often sold for about $150 or $0.30/ml.  This is about
twice the MIS bulk price, but cheaper than the PiezoTone ink prices.  For
the LK, the 220 ML carts may be the best you can do.  Those commonly sell
for about $100, but I've heard there are better prices.  (Tom B., are you
there?)  

On the other hand, did you ever wonder how LK and PK are related?  If the PK
is diluted with base, the price becomes very low indeed.  Recall that light
ink is mostly just expensive water.  Ink sellers love light inks.

The economics of an Epson UC or Archival-based B&W inkset might not be bad
at all.  The question for me is whether the pigs are better than the MIS
pigs.  Many will presume they are.  My fade tests may indicate just the
opposite.  However, if a small ink seller wanted to do something
interesting, it's all there.


Paul
www.PaulRoark.com