Digital BW, The Print

----- Original Message -----
From: "a_pettit_jr" <a_pettit_jr@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 4:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Best printer for B&W Printing???


> Hello Martin,
>
> I have not posted here for several months. Back in Feb/Mar, I
> printed literally hundreds of density strips and photo snips
> with my 2000P to see if there was any duo/tri/quad tone setup
> that would enable quality BW prints. The MIS and Lyson greyscale
> inks were a disaster IMO. I printed a small portfolio, but was
> been extremely discouraged with the green/purple undertones
> and pretty much gave up for a while ...

Alex,

I have received a few 2000P prints in the various print exchanges and they
were quite nice when viewed in the light they were intended for. Some of the
ones I liked best had been balanced for daylight and were then purple in
tungsten light. This actually was quite interesting and not too different
from some 19th century prints I have seen.

In the exchanges I have gotten a couple of prints using the original MIS
quad inks and I have to say I was very surprised after all the stories I
have read. The particular print I have in mind was a portrait and of top
quality. I think that may be a case that with dogged persistence just about
anything can be used if you are willing to put in the time and suffer the
aggravation.
>
> Since there seems to be no hope for the 2000P, I wish to purchase
> a BW dedicated printer....

I think this is the best approach in general. Neutral tone B&W prints from a
full color ink set seem like an up hill battle. Not that it can't be done
but it is not the easiest path to follow.
>
> The 1280 for 13x19 and 3000 for 17x22 ?? Will resolution of
> the 3000 make worthwhile 13x19 ? Is it required that
> the 3000 use the Piezo drivers for proper dithering ??

I have seen very nice prints from 8.5x11 to 17x22 done on the 3000 with the
Epson driver and with the Piezo driver. The trade off is that if you get out
a loupe or look very closely you are going to see some dots in the highest
tones of a print done with the 3000 and the Epson driver. Unless you are
going to do a lot of 17x22 prints I would go with the 1280. Given the
rebates it is pretty inexpensive and if you really need the larger output
you could add a 3000 later. Remember that if you buy the Piezo driver it
supports both printers. It would be interesting to know how may 3000 owners
also have smaller printers for use with the smaller paper sizes.
>
> It is unfortunate that there is such a $$ gap in printers
> in that a semipro $1500 to $2000 printer does  not exist.

I agree and I am completely baffled. There was much talk that the 2200 is a
"prosumer" printer and I am inclined to disagree. "Prosumers" are typically
willing to spend considerably more than that. Epson should know this from
their scanner product line and the success they had with the 1600 series
that was in the $1,100 to $1,600 range. I would welcome an updated version
of the 3000 with six or seven heads, the 17" paper width and a reliable
paper transport priced between $1,000 and $2,000. In my opinion Epson really
blew it with the 5000 and 5500 by not making them 17" printers.

The current price gap between the desktop printers and the wide 7000, 9000
and 10000 series is huge. I can't believe they are passing up the marketing
opportunity to offer something new in that range.

Martin


>
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Martin Wesley"
> <mwesley250@e...> wrote:
> > Rob,
> >
> > It depends upon your size requires and budget. Overall the 7000 and
> 9000
> > would be the way to go if you can. For desktop printing up to 13x19
> then the
> > 1280 would be the one to get. If you must have 17x22 output then go
> with the
> > 3000 (the 1520 has a bad reputation for paper feeding problems). I
> think
> > that the 1280 has the edge over the 3000 in output quality but only
> if you
> > look very closely. The 3000 is no longer on the Epson site so I am
> guessing
> > it is no longer in production. I see prices on the Web as low as
> $860 so I
> > would expect used units to be $500 or less.
> >
> > Also keep in mind that a 3000 takes up a lot of desk and having
> access to
> > feed paper from the rear is important for heavy art papers.
> >
> > Martin Wesley
> >
> > http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
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