Digital BW, The Print

Paul,

Appreciate the feedback. One of the things that is a draw for the 
3000 is that it will take any of the ink sets and with the cartridge 
loading option it isn't as big an expense or hassle as changing over 
a CIS. I haven't printed 16X20 in years but mostly because I didn't 
have the capability. I would be nice to see some of my 4x5 and 6x7 
work at that size.

The possibility of running the MIS VM is in my mind too. As we 
discussed once it is a bit easier to manipulate with 4-inks rather 
than the 6 of the 1280. My taste in ink seems to fall in-between most 
peoples preferred tones of cool and warm so that is an option for me.

As you know I am fond of the Eclipse Satine and the Hahnemule Photo 
Rag. Do you think that those could be front feed?

Thanks,
Martin


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> Martin,
> 
> >...After the all the nice things the Piezo
> >users have had to say I am thinking in terms of Piezo on a 3000.
> 
> When you get the print exchange package, you'll be able to see what 
my 3000
> prints look like with the MIS VM inkset.
> 
> Last night I decided to enter a print in a juried show that required
> submission this morning.  The image I chose was in a Genuine 
Fractals file
> that is about one year old.  I had made it for/with Piezo inks 
then.  I
> increased resolution to what is needed for a 16x20 at 360 dpi and 
printed it
> unaltered through the 3000 with MIS VM inks and the neutral curve.  
I let
> the print dry over night, and this morning I taped it into a Light
> Impressions pre-cut matte, put that into a frame, and entered it 
into the
> show.
> 
> It was really as simple as that.  One piece of paper, a year-old 
file that
> was done when I was using Piezo inks, and bingo, a perfect 16x20 
out of the
> 3000.  I love that old clunker.  (People I talk to on the phone 
when the
> 3000 is running think I'm in a newspaper printing room:  Ker-Chunk,
> Ker-Chunk ....)
> 
> But, the 3000 clearly has its weaknesses. Even front feeding EAM 
took three
> tries last night before it worked.  Also, I'm not a thick paper 
guy, so I
> don't have all of those problems.  I just front feed EAM that I cut 
from a
> 24" roll.  (I tried Museo front-fed, which the company says works.  
It fed,
> but looked terrible -- mottled.)
> 
> Also, I am not expert on 3000's.  I have not had it long, and I've 
basically
> just followed what appeared to be the consensus of users, mostly on 
the
> Piezo group, who were not reporting problems.  For me it's just 
been a very
> easy and relatively cheap way to get what I consider excellent 
16x20s.
> 
> So, the experts like Tyler are going to know a lot more about the 
machine
> than I do.
> 
> >...I am thinking of using the
> >Piezo driver with the MIS Full Spectrum inks until the selenium 
Piezo
> >arrives.
> 
> I wonder if there is enough demand for a non-warming, neutral 
version of the
> FS inkset for me to bother with it.  I think the 4-ink version 
would be an
> easy modification of the next-generation variable-tone I'm working 
on.
> (Don't worry, it uses the same curves.)  My feeling is that a lot 
of people
> want either warmer or cooler than the current FS inkset.
> 
> >The 3000 is fast vanishing at this point ...
> 
> I see it is still on the Epson website.  Have they stopped selling 
it?
> 
> >With the Piezo or MIS inks am I likely to have to modify the 
printer
> >by removing pizza wheels, etc.?
> 
> I have seen some wheel marks on a couple of prints with EAM.  I 
have not
> removed the offending ones yet, however.  On most EAM prints it's 
not a
> problem.
> 
> >I don't hear much about the 1520. Is this a viable
> >alternative to the 3000?
> 
> No.
> 
> >How difficult is it to fill your own virgin cartridges for the 
3000?
> 
> No problem.  Follow MIS instructions.  Get their clamps to hold the 
carts
> upright.  (The clamps seemed like they could break the carts, but 
being
> careful, it all worked perfectly the first time.)
> 
> >How is it done?
> 
> Big syringes with special needles -- I was a bit afraid I'd wrecked 
the seal
> by pushing the syringe through, but it all worked out.  Getting the 
air out
> sounds tricky, but it was really no big deal.
> 
> >How important is it to have the Epson warranty? Would a used one 
be a
> >reasonably safe bet?
> 
> After the Piezo list, I was afraid to get one without that warranty 
and
> until I was fairly convinced that the Epson driver was an 
alternative. I
> also waited until EAM was available.  I understand it'll now be 
called
> "Endurance" in rolls and sold in November.
> 
> If you want 16x20s and can't justify a 7000, go for it -- there 
really
> aren't any alternatives.  To me the 16x20 size is really important, 
as that
> is what I've been printing for years in the darkroom.
> 
> Paul
> http://www.PaulRoark.com