Digital BW, The Print

ascherjim@... wrote:
>
> Although my 1400 can accommodate and print with six different tones of ink, in my black-and-white printing (the only kind I do) I utilize and print with only three dilutions of black, using QTR curves.  I also employ a CIS system.  For the three ink channels I do not employ (which presently contain gradually-depleting dilutions of ink I do not use) is it safe to just let them eventually run dry, through evaporation or the occasional nozzle cleaning, or should I substitute the ink in their respective three CIS compartments with some benign replacement solution? I mix my own dilutions of black using Paul Roark's base solution formula. If it is inadvisable to let the channels run dry, could I use the base solution as a replacement, or should I use some cleaning solution?   





I would not allow the channels to run dry.  Even if you don't need them now, in the future you may want them.  If they are dry, they'll self-destruct.

Given my penchant for experimenting with different inks, I can't imagine not using those ink positions for something.  Even if you only need 3 inks, you could double up on those.  If you prefer QTR you could easily make a second profile for the other 3 channels and use the sliders to print with all of them.

Using all 6 inks also allows you to make an inkset that is Epson driver compatible.  This can be useful for speed or other things.

Which 3 inks/dilutions are you now using?

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com