Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Martin 
Wesley" <mwesley250@e...> wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Shilesh Jani" <shilesh.jani@s...>
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 3:01 PM
> Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Off-center prints on Epson 1200
> 
> 
> > Bob,
> >
> > I agree with Martin.  The 1280 is a good choice.   I recently
> > participated in a Technical Print Exchange.  Comparing the 
1260 and
> > 1280, the prints were very similar in ramp smoothness and 
dottiness.
> > Both printers were  A LOT less dotty than the newer 2200 
printer
> > using a number of different RIPs.  So, unless you find a good 
1260,
> > you can confidently go with the 1280.
> >
> 
> Shilesh,
> 
> Unfortunately, I wasn't a member of the technical exchange but 
I have
> communicat3ed with Clayton and I gather he is writing up a 
summary plus some
> additional info.
> 
> From the samples you have you feel the 1280 and 1160 out 
performed the 2200?
> That's too bad. I was hoping that the 2200 would represent a 
step forward
> but I guess the mechanics really are not changing and the 
factors that
> govern "dottiness" and smooth tonality as simply staying 
constant.
> 
> Martin
> 

Hi Martin,

It's not so much the mechanics of the 2200, its what inks
are used.  Using standard Epson UC inks there are only
black and light-black used i.e. 2 inks.  Most people with 1160's
and 1280's are using 3 or 4 grays, and that is what makes
the difference.  I'm also going to be sending Clayton a print
from my 7500 (the only one in the exchange I think) that I
made with my QuadToneRIP and a custom created 5 grays
ink set.  It'll be interesting to see how a non-variable dotsize
printer stands up to all the others.

Roy