Digital BW, The Print

David,
>
> >> Try the Epson driver. You might try one where the printer controls the color handling. Try Color Controls with gamma 2.2. Use the highest quality printing options.


> 
> I am a bit befuddled by this. The printer has no way of 
> knowing it has grayscale instead of color inks in it. 
> Isn't it just going to print according to the colors in 
> the image instead of the gray tones?

OK, I assumed you were printing a grayscale file.  I use 21-step grayscale files to test and profile inkses.  See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/21-Step.jpg

 
> How do I get it to make best use of the grays? 

Let's start with a grayscale file and ignore RGB to GS conversion for now.

I think you asked for the easiest way to print.  Using the driver's built in profiles and the settings I suggested sometimes results in very good prints.  I know professional photographers who use this approach.

If the results are not good, then the next easiest, in my view, is to use an ICC with the Epson driver.  For this the settings are different.  You'd use "ICM/No Color Adjustment" in the driver and start with a Photoshop applied Adobe RGB profile in the PS print profile box.


> And since I have duplicate inks in the Cyan and Light Cyan channels,


You indicated your inks were as follows:

> K = K4-4-K
> C & M = K4-4-PK
> LC & LM = K4-4-LK
> Y = K4-4-LLK

C and LC are different, and by an amount that is matched to what the Epson driver expects in its built-in cross-overs.

> do those inks just sit there unused?

No, the Epson driver uses all channels when a grayscale file (R=G=B) is sent to it.  The driver is always in RGB mode.

> Are there no profiles for this printer and ink setup, or even
> something likely to be in the ballpark?

The Color Controls with Gamma 2.2 is in the ballpark and uses a built in profile.  It may be too light for you.

The next step -- the ICC -- if the Color Controls is not enough, involves making a custom ICC.


> I have run a couple of test prints on Arches Hot Press 
> and the blacks are decidedly gray and muddy. 

OK, if you're running Arches, forget the Epson driver and get QTR.

If you don't have a spectro and know how to profile, you're going to need help setting up this system. You can contact me off list for individualized consulting.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com