Digital BW, The Print

Thanks Darren.  Your site was very helpful.  I believe from your site 
that you're doing B&W prints using the black ink only.  It sound like 
you're getting results that you're happy with and that it might be an 
acceptable way to get started.  The Epson Photo 820 is available here 
in the US for around $100.  I guess at that price I would't be taking 
much of a risk. 

Doug Santoli


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Darren Collins" 
<collinda@n...> wrote:
> Hi Doug,
> 
> I was in a similar position to you, and decided in the end to go 
for the
> Epson 810 (called the 820 in the US). Here's my reasoning:
> http://www.pool-
room.com/Personal/Photography/EpsonStylusPhoto810.html
> 
> I really didn't mind that I couldn't buy CIS systems for it - it was
> relatively cheap to buy, and I'll probably get an A3 printer in the 
future
> anyway. It's cheaper to run than getting my digital prints done
> commercially, and most people at my camera club can't tell that my 
prints
> are inkjet (colour and BW). A couple of times I've been 
complimented on my
> darkroom technique!
> 
> If you're sure you want a CIS/MIS system, I'd have a good look at 
the Epson
> 890. It seems to be supported by several vendors now. Otherwise, 
think about
> getting a second-hand Epson 870 or something. A lot of people are 
still
> quite happy using them.
> 
> Darren.
> 
> > I'm getting started with digital. I've been scanning 35mm B&W 
film 
> > and getting familiar with photoshop.  I don't have a printer yet 
and 
> > I'm having some difficulty deciding what's best for me.  
> > 
> > I'm looking to start out with something inexpensive and I'm 
willing 
> > to limit myself to A4 size prints. I'm really surprised that none 
of 
> > the smaller epson printers available today seem to be supported 
by 
> > Piezography, MIS, Lyson, etc.  These would include the C80, 820, 
> > 785EPX. I know that the chipped cartridges are most likely the 
cause 
> > of this. I've though about trying to find something used but I 
really 
> > would prefer to save this as a last resort. So, is there any way 
to 
> > get one of these printers working with a monochrome ink set?
> > 
> > I recently noticed that the Canon printers don't have chipped 
carts
> > and reviews of the S900 and S820 are mostly positive. The price 
is a 
> > little high for these printers but empty cartridges are available.
> > 
> > If I get a printer that is currently unsupported by MIS, fill the
> > cartridges manually, and generate transfer functions using the 
Nevins
> > method, will I get acceptable results?
> > 
> > Are there any other low cost A4 size solutions?  I'm not looking
> > to create large archival prints of the highest quality just yet.
> > I'm just looking to get some results now that will help me learn 
and
> > stay interested. Should I just start out with black ink only as
> > mentioned in the  Nicholas Hartmann interview?  Would duotones be 
a
> > good starting point?
> > 
> > Sorry for all of the questions but I've seen very few inkjet 
prints
> > and I'm not really sure what to expect.  Thanks.  
> > 
> > Doug Santoli
> > Waterbury, CT
> > 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]