Digital BW, The Print

Mark, I just saw that there is now a Piezo K7 set for
the 1800 - so that would be an option.  I don't have
any experience with shifting back-and-forth between
these and color, however.  Maybe someone else does?

BTW, a C86 with EZ inks is a really good way to get
started with quad-tone B&W ... and with rebates, etc.,
they can be had CHEAP ( mine new cost me about $35 and
I still have the original Epson color carts
unopened!).  Albeit they are only letter size - but
for getting used to B&W and testing paper, inks, and
approaches - extremely hard to beat!

And one can do BO as well...with some images and for
many with tastes similar to mine, these look extremely
good... Of course if you do BO, the color carts can
just be left in the printer for color printing.

I am told, soon the R200 carts will be available from
MIS and it should offer similar "starter" and small
format printing for little investment of money, time,
or precious mental energy - as Paul Roark will have
done that for us...THANKS!  And reports are it is
slightly better in print quality than the C86 and
so-far, reliable with pigments despite being designed
for dyes. 

FWIW...my $.02

Michael Vendell

--- Matt <dweccl@...> wrote:

> I know there are several posts on this topic
> already, but the
> technology keeps changing and I can't find any post
> that addresses my
> specific requirements.
> 
> I'm looking for a printer to get started.  I've done
> some traditional
> silver darkroom work and love the look of fiber
> based matte papers -
> RC never did much for me.  I also want to print
> color images (which
> presumably means semi-gloss or gloss).  Ideally, I'd
> like to print
> quality B & W and color prints from one printer due
> to space and
> expense considerations.
> 
> I'd also like the printer to have some longevity -
> i.e. when I'm able
> to get a second printer, I'd like it to work well as
> a dedicated B & W
> (using K7, MIS or other B & W ink sets) or color
> printer and have a
> carriage that takes 11 x 14 or larger paper and
> preferably roll paper.
> 
> If I have to jump through a bunch of technical hoops
> to get where I
> need to go I'm OK with that.  I'm sure I'll learn a
> lot in the process.
> 
> The Epson 1800 seems to fit most of my criteria, but
> I'm not sure how
> well I can print B & W on it without using the color
> inks.  I've seen
> b & w prints made from color inks and the color cast
> IMO would be
> unacceptable.  Maybe a RIP profile from QTR would
> work to do some kind
> of 100% black printing (as a poster on this board
> mentioned on their
> site a while back), but I'm not sure if the epson's
> support 100% black
> printing.  Is there a way to do all black printing
> on this printer? 
> If not, would an earlier epson (like the 2200) be a
> better way to go?
> 
> Another possibility would be a couple of used
> 1280's, but they would
> take up more space than I have and would have that
> irritating single
> cartridge for all colors thing (limiting ink sets I
> could use and
> costing more cash in consumables).  I'd also have
> longevity and
> support issues to consider as this printer ages.
> 
> I could maybe do a pair of R800's, but I wouldn't
> have the wide
> carriage and I'd be afraid of outgrowing this
> printer if it can't do
> sizes greater than 8.5 x 11.
> 
> If anyone knows if it's possible to do all black
> printing on the 1800,
> I think that would be ideal.  If not, I'd welcome
> any alternatives you
> could suggest.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 



		
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