Digital BW, The Print

It may be time for me to move on to a 24" printer.  It will be for B&W
printing only.  So, the color ink issues are not of much concern to me.  The
question is, do I get a 7000, 7500 or 7600?  I'm leaning toward either the
7500 or 7600.

The 7600 has that extra light black ink, which may be a benefit.  On the
other hand, who knows how it may react to curves that are designed to
control a B&W, probably variable-tone, inkset.  I'm a bit skeptical that, at
display print size, the 2880 has much benefit.  I assume the 7600 is a bit
faster.  A warranty certainly has some benefit if the alternative 7500 is
not under warranty.  The chips are a pain, but I'm told empty chipped carts
will be here next month.

The 7500 would have the advantage of being able to take the Archival inks.
While I would not anticipate using the colors for anything other than toning
a B&W inkset, the Epson Archival pigments are more light fast than the
UltraChromes -- or any other desktop inks.  (Can the Archival pigments be
used on the 7600?  The smaller picoliter heads suggest potential trouble.)
Of course, the 7500 would be a bit cheaper to buy initially.

I would anticipate making an advanced (meaning more lightfast) version of
the neutral-to-sepia inkset for whatever I get.  I might base this on
PiezoTone midtones, the UC inks, perhaps some Archival inks, or perhaps new
inks MIS comes up with.

All comments -- including what others might like to see -- are welcomed.
For example, are there people who would want a B&W inkset for the 7600 or
7500?

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com