Digital BW, The Print

"vm4690" <concertinist@...> wrote:
>
> I'm getting ready to order an 1100 printer 

> and a set of EZ B&W Ultratone cartridges* from MIS. 

> * http://www.inksupply.com/utez.cfm

Note first that MIS does not cite my 1100 PDF at the MIS website, above.  Because they do not, it makes me worry a bit about what they are loading.  

The inkset I recommended to MIS and was told they'd load for the 1100 is written up at http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/1100.pdf  I used MIS UT14 C and LC, not the C82-88 EZ inks, for the recommended 1100 EZ setup.  The profiles for the systems are not the same.


> I'd appreciate a sanity check ...


(Richard does have a valid point, but with that caveat ...)


> My current workflow is to scan B&W negatives ... 16 bit Gray, ...

That's good.

> and print them from Lightroom with the Color Management Profile set to "Managed by Printer". 


You probably can, but I prefer ICCs.  See below and http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/1100.pdf page 5 and following.


> ... I'd like to print bigger than 8.5" wide. And I'd like to keep the cost down.


The 1100 and 1400 are good choices.  There are a number of alternative inksets that will work.


> If I correctly understand what I've read here and elsewhere, I should be able to download the correct driver for OSX Lion from the Epson web site, connect the 1100 ... 

I assume Mac supports the 1100. 


> install the EZ cartridges,

Again, note the potential confusion between MIS and my PDF.  You can eliminate that potential source of confusion by using the MIS UT14 C and LC inks, buying them in bulk and loading them into MIS empty carts yourself -- saves a lot of money also.



> and proceed exactly as I am doing now. But that sounds almost too easy. Am I missing something?


I have not checked my profiles in Lightroom, but it appears to pull up the ICCs in much the same manner as Photohsop CS5, which is what I use.  I make the ICCs with QTR's Create ICC-RGB.  I highly recommend the ICC workflow.  It's very easy and much better than when the Epson driver by itself tries to control the inkset.


> ... a pointer to a good source of affordable matte paper would be appreciated too.


There are a huge number of papers.  Red River is one of the leaders in value.  

Good luck with your B&W.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com