Digital BW, The Print

Hi, I am looking for advice to help me choose between two A4 printers.  I
have previously used an Epson 3000 with MIS QT inks for B&W and then when
this died (paper feed problems) switched to OPM with an Epson 2100 using the
standard UC inkset.

I am now looking for a dedicated B&W printer again, albeit starting on a
smaller scale than before.  My choice is between an Epson R220, which I
would have to purchase, with either the MIS UT-R2 or UT-3D inks or a spare,
unused, R800 I have in my loft, probably with MIS UT-3D inks.  I will be
printing on both matt and the newer fibre based gloss papers.

Common sense suggests the R220 as I will be properly up and running much
faster, however the possibilities offered by the additional inks of the R800
are appealing.  Any suggestions?

David, before you forget about the old 3000, could you tell me what papers
worked with the QT inks.

gar

  -----Original Message-----
  From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of David
Whistance
  Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 3:09 PM
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: [Digital BW] Suggestions for dedicated B&W printer


  Hi, I am looking for advice to help me choose between two A4 printers. I
  have previously used an Epson 3000 with MIS QT inks for B&W and then when
  this died (paper feed problems) switched to OPM with an Epson 2100 using
the
  standard UC inkset.

  I am now looking for a dedicated B&W printer again, albeit starting on a
  smaller scale than before. My choice is between an Epson R220, which I
  would have to purchase, with either the MIS UT-R2 or UT-3D inks or a
spare,
  unused, R800 I have in my loft, probably with MIS UT-3D inks. I will be
  printing on both matt and the newer fibre based gloss papers.

  Common sense suggests the R220 as I will be properly up and running much
  faster, however the possibilities offered by the additional inks of the
R800
  are appealing. Any suggestions?



  


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>... looking for advice to help me choose between two A4 printers...

>... dedicated B&W ... My choice is between an Epson R220, which I
>would have to purchase, with either the MIS UT-R2 or UT-3D inks 

This is a well tested and much liked little printer.  (I have yet to receive
a production 3D inkset for verification.  It should arrive this week --
hopefully matching what I mixed.)

>or a spare, unused, R800 I have in my loft, probably with MIS UT-3D inks.

This is untested and not recommended.   

(In theory, I'd love to have a tiny dot, no midtone crossovers, and more ink
spots, but from what I've heard the technology isn't quite ready.)

>I will be printing on both matt and the newer fibre based gloss papers.

Either the R2 or 3D inks will do it.  The R2 is better for glossy with PKN
installed.  (There is a specific one for the 220.)  The 3D can do excellent
blacks with the its midtone inks. 

>Common sense suggests the R220 as I will be properly up and running much
>faster,

Concur.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

We are in the b&w portrait business and have been selling siver
gelatin prints for the last twenty years. Last Xmas we decided to go
digital. Not because we wanted to but because the Agfa film and papers
that we had for years used with beatiful results went out of business.
 I had previously tried the Epson 2100/2200 using the ImagePrint rip.
This produced pretty good results but still with considerable
metermerism and bronzing. 
 We have now bought an Epson 4800 and after many teething problems
(including the fact that the Mac OSX cannot drive the printer without
subtle banding) we are getting stunning results.  
 We now work on the Mac and print from a PC. Good professional
profiles are a must but we have not found it necessary tp use
ImagePrint on the PC but Print straight from the (horrible) PS/Epson
print interface.
 So, in conclusion, I cannot talk for printers I have not tried but
the 4800 will give you very good results. but you have to work at it.
Tweaking in PhotoShop is important. Conversion methods from Colour to
B&W are important. A steady workflow is as well. When printing a lot 
I get the best results as one 'keeps one's hand in' and continually
check what is happening. Doing the od print is more difficult.
  Jules


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "David Whistance"
<david.whistance@...> wrote:
>
> Hi, I am looking for advice to help me choose between two A4
printers.  I
> have previously used an Epson 3000 with MIS QT inks for B&W and then
when
> this died (paper feed problems) switched to OPM with an Epson 2100
using the
> standard UC inkset.
> 
> I am now looking for a dedicated B&W printer again, albeit starting on a
> smaller scale than before.  My choice is between an Epson R220, which I
> would have to purchase, with either the MIS UT-R2 or UT-3D inks or a
spare,
> unused, R800 I have in my loft, probably with MIS UT-3D inks.  I will be
> printing on both matt and the newer fibre based gloss papers.
> 
> Common sense suggests the R220 as I will be properly up and running much
> faster, however the possibilities offered by the additional inks of
the R800
> are appealing.  Any suggestions?
>

Jules, I curious about what paper(s) you are using and whether you are
using the ABW feature in the Epson driver.
>

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Jules" 
<jules50uk@...> wrote:
>
>  We are in the b&w portrait business and have been selling siver
> gelatin prints for the last twenty years. Last Xmas we decided to go
> digital. Not because we wanted to but because the Agfa film and 
papers
> that we had for years used with beatiful results went out of 
business.
>  I had previously tried the Epson 2100/2200 using the ImagePrint 
rip.
> This produced pretty good results but still with considerable
> metermerism and bronzing. 
>  We have now bought an Epson 4800 and after many teething problems
> (including the fact that the Mac OSX cannot drive the printer 
without
> subtle banding) we are getting stunning results.  
>  We now work on the Mac and print from a PC. Good professional
> profiles are a must but we have not found it necessary tp use
> ImagePrint on the PC but Print straight from the (horrible) PS/Epson
> print interface.
>  So, in conclusion, I cannot talk for printers I have not tried but
> the 4800 will give you very good results. but you have to work at 
it.
> Tweaking in PhotoShop is important. Conversion methods from Colour 
to
> B&W are important. A steady workflow is as well. When printing a 
lot 
> I get the best results as one 'keeps one's hand in' and continually
> check what is happening. Doing the od print is more difficult.
>   Jules
> 

Jules,

The printer is only one aspect, the inks are another.
I use the 2200, John Cone K7 inks, and QTR. The B&Ws can be simply 
stunning.

The only thing I don't recommend is the 2200. Way Too Slow.

Regards

Jules (Yeah me too  :- )