Digital BW, The Print

Ernst wrote:

>I've talked with someone on the Epson stand at the Fotokina. I said
>CMYKkk(+glossK) and he nodded.

That could be an interesting machine.  Without the light color inks,
however, the dots would be visible in the highlights for color printing or
toned quads.  The dot size is about like the 1160, where some are bothered
by the cool toner of the MIS VM inkset, even though with that inkset the
cold toner is low gamut and light

>Ilford considers dropping the Monokrome pigment quad inks for Encads.
>Too small a market I was told. ...

I'd guess that is the reason the big guys aren't in this market already.  I
suspect Epson's B&W efforts will always be limited what they can do with a
setup that is basically designed for color.  However, since color benefits
from the ability to have a neutral grayscale, I think the 2200/7600 is the
beginning of the end of dedicated quad systems.  If there is an 8-ink
(7800?) it should be able to do it all.

>John Nollendorfs mentioned the use of Ultrachrome in a 9000 without
>problems.

Great.  We can move on to some interesting new inks now.  I have yet to see
and cheap 3rd party inks yet, however.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com