Digital BW, The Print

Partial answers, Steve,

> #1 Can I switch inks from the Epson generic inks to the MIS VM inks 
> with impunity and without fear of a ink jet clog that will ruin my 
> machine. I assume I can do this without the purge cartridges. Can 
> people confirm this so I can sleep the night before I switch ink 
> sets. Has anyone gotten a clog in this change that cannot be cleared?

Yes, I did it with no apparent downside. Just follow the directions for 
transporting the printer, it will purge and recharge the lines. It will 
take the printing of several "purge" images (MIS website) to get the 
old ink out, but eventually you'll be fine.


> #2 After installation of the MIS inks, can they be later switched to 
> the Cone inkset if needed or even later be switched back to the Epson 
> inkset? Again is any sort of purging needed in changing these inksets.
> 

I believe the problem is only with Lyson inks, as their solvents are 
different and can cause sludging if they mix with the MIS inks. I would 
purge anyways, though (see above).  Mike Kravit can answer this one 
from experience. I've not yet done it though I'm nearing the point 
where I'm finished testing the MIS inks and may be going to the 
PiezoBWPro24 setup.  MIS inks are not really the problem so much as I'm 
just unhappy with the Epson driver.  It doesn't appear to be a match 
for the Piezo software for a sharp, dotless image and ultra-smooth 
tonal range.  Additionally I don't care for having to work in RGB (my 
grey scale images are over 100MB to start with) and all the 
accompanying curve stuff you have to go through.

> #5 I am a former platinum printer and I definitely favor the 
> brown/sepia tone evident in platinum to the cooler silver gelatine. I 
> would like to choose an inkset and system that prints on the warmer 
> side using an Epson 7000. What is my best bet at this point?

I find that Piezo inks, when printed on the archival papers (not EAM), 
print a little green initially but then shift to a beautiful brownish 
tone after about 2 weeks in the light.  EAM is an exception to this, 
but of course it's not an archival paper.

Phil
http://philbard.com