Digital BW, The Print

Erica,
2 things.  Yes you should be using the Black ink designed for the VM 
inkset.  The Epson black ink is completely different.
Second:  I suggest you try Paul's new curves for the 870.  I find 
them to work much better on the 1280, than the previous set of curves 
that are on the MIS web site. The new curves are available from this 
forum in the "files section"
Here's a link:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/Ink%
20Sets%2C%20reviews%20and%20techniques/MIS%20Variable%20Mix/870%20and%
201270%20Curves/

good luck
Kevin



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Ericka Menchen" 
<ericka_akcire@y...> wrote:
> I am new to printing high quality black and white pictures. I 
recently
> bought a MIS Variable Tone ink cartridge for my Epson 1280. I tried 
to
> follow the instructions on the MIS web site very carefully and use 
the
> curves by Paul Roark, but I'm getting weird tones on my images.
> 
> I've been using the regular Epson black ink with the MIS 6 color 
variable
> tone cartridge. I just want ask if my problem is that I need to use 
a black
> cartridge from MIS, or if there could be a different problem?
> 
> I'd be happy to scan the printed image to show you what I mean 
by "weird
> tones" (sorry I can't put my finger on it verbally) but I'm hoping 
someone
> has experimented with this, or made this mistake and can let me 
know for
> sure.
> 
> Thanks,
> Ericka Menchen
> www.erickamenchen.com