Digital BW, The Print

Hi Bob.

I'm using a 2200 with the standard UC inkset and IJC/OPM.  I have 
never used a dedicated quad inkset for B&W, so I'm not sure what I am 
missing.  My initial plan was to buy a new larger printer for color 
work and install a dedicated B&W inkset, probably MIS UT7, inks in my 
2200.  However, I have put this on the back burner for now for a 
number of reasons.

First, I am getting awesome B&W and toned monochrome prints from the 
UC inkset, on both matte and glossy papers using IJC/OPM with the UC 
inks.  Great Dmax, perfectly neutral (as measured by my Eye One), 
great tonal separation, etc.  My current ink profiles don't use 
yellow (except for the sepia profile) and I haven't experienced any 
metamerism in my prints, which was one of my main concerns.  I've 
done quite a bit of wet B&W darkroom work and I am very happy with my 
current setup.  Perhaps the UT7 inkset will improve on this, but I 
can't imagine by much.

Second, I have seen way too many complaints about clogged nozzles, 
poor QA, wrong inks, defective cartridges, etc.  I'm sure the bulk of 
users have no complaints and this is a relatively small percentage, 
but it is clear there are still quite a few people having problems.

Third, I don't really want to be swapping inks back and forth.  I 
like being able to switch from color to B&W and not have to change 
inks.  I do a lot of color and B&W.

Finally, if I don't have to buy a new printer, I save myself a few 
thousand dollars, since I am looking at an Epson 4000 or larger.

Perhaps the dedicated inks will provide marginal improvements in 
quality, and it is probably worth trying, especially with the easy 
fill carts.  But with IJC/OPM and good profiles, the color inkset 
provides marvelous B&W output.  Perhaps some dedicated quad ink users 
will provide additional feedback.  Regardless of the inkset chosen, 
IJC/OPM can give you great profiles and great prints.

Hope this helps.  

Lou

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "p5198" 
<rbollini@n...> wrote:
> 
> Until the end of this month, the 1280 can be had for $299. I have 
one
> now, mounted on my Win2K machine with a CFS and Gen2 pigments. My
> 1160, with MIS VM (and Paul's curves) has given me some memorable 
B&W,
> but it has just collapsed. Now that the new cartridges are available
> for the 1280, I'm tempted to replace the 1160 with a new 1280, using
> COLOURED inks -- MIS' pigments probably -- IJC & OPM, and my Eye-One
> Photo, to experiment with a do-it-all printer. I have the impression
> from Lou Dina's generous contributions to the list that this combo
> will permit B&W and colour from one printer with no sacrifice in
> quality. Have I got it right? Do any third-party bulk inks 
especially
> recommend themselves to this project?
> Bob Bollini