Digital BW, The Print

>... Is it possible to use the R3000 without the photo black
> cartridge installed at all?

Probably not.  

If there is a third party chip that is compatible with the Epson set, I'd probably put a clear base or cleaning fluid in the PK spot.  With respect to the 1400, I was pleasantly surprised to find the MIS chips are compatible with the OEM chips.  It might be worth asking them or others if they have a chip that is compatible with the R3000 chips -- that is, one that can be used in just a single spot and be treated as an OEM Epson chip by the printer software.

Epson probably has the machine clean itself enough to keep the PK from clogging, but, nonetheless, it would probably also be wise to print a page of black every few weeks to keep the systems in good shape.


Paul
www.PaulRoark.com