Digital BW, The Print

>... decided to go ahead and buy an 1160 due to many reasons, ...

Good choice -- very versatile.

>So ... what MIS inks should I get ... Im thinking FS-N, because
>neutral B&W is probably more versatile for
>me than having to fiddle with sepia options if I get VS-sepia (altho its
>nice to be able to print sepia)...

The FS-N is versatile in the sense that both the Epson and Piezo drivers can
print it.  Some do prefer the Piezo driver due to its paper profiles and
more "plug and play" character.  It can make very good prints.  (I prefer
the Epson driver due to its darker blacks, and the Piezo driver doesn't
allow me to use my computer while printing -- a serious problem for me.
And, the Epson driver can also make very good prints.)

The variable-tone/mix inksets are versatile in the tones they can print.  I
use the vm-s because of this.  I do my landscapes with the neutral curve,
and my "southwest" and old photo reproductions with the light sepia and
sepia tones, respectively.

One's ability/willingness to tweak curves may be part of the equation,
however.  Not all printers seem to print the same with the Epson driver and
Photoshop image adjustment curves that have been made.

>So my question is, considering i want to
>print mainly neutral B&W, can VS-sepia achieve as neutral tones as FS-N
>whilst allowing one to print sepia as well, or am i better off with FS-N
>becos its neutrals are more superior than VS-sepia?

The gray ink in the vm-s inkset is the FS-N ink.  The FS-N ink is a hair
cool, so I put in just a bit of sepia toner (via the "neutral curve") to
make a dead neutral print.  I think it is the most neutral print I've seen
yet.

Note that I use an 1160 with a PC.  If you are using a Mac, the curves may
need a bit of adjustment.  (I have not seen a Mac/vm-s/1160 print.)

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com