Digital BW, The Print

ConeTech has released the driver for the 1280 which can be downloaded 
for free if you have Version 6.0. The download also includes an 
upgrade for the 1200 Piezo driver which gives a smoother and more 
even tonal ramp. The inks are not quite ready for shipment but they 
expect to begin very shortly.

http://www.inkjetmall.com/store/ts/index.html

I have test run the 1280 Piezo driver with the MIS VM inks installed 
so I can't comment about print tonality but I do note that in terms 
of banding and window screen it is a vast improvement over my 1200. 
This is likely more of an individual printer-to-printer issue than a 
software issue. The print quality of the 1200 when set to "Best" in 
the Piezo driver is equivalent to the 1280's "Good" in terms of 
microscopic banding.

I measured some print times for an 7x10 image on an 8.5x11 sheet:

1200 Piezo "Best" - 7 min. 42MB print file
1280 Piezo "Good" - 4 min. 22MB print file
1280 Piezo "Better" - 8 min 55MB print file
1280 Piezo "Best" - 23 min 105MB print file
1280 Epson Driver 1440 - 13 min 149MB print file
1280 Epson Driver 2880 - 21 min 149MB print file

I gather that on the 1280 the Piezo "Good", "Better" and "Best" 
settings are linked to the incremental feed advances associated to 
the 720, 1440 and 2880dpi Epson resolution settings.

I do not see any difference between the Piezo "Better" and "Best" 
setting or the Epson 1440 and 2880 on this 35mm Tmax 400 image. This 
is fortunate since a 20+ print time for an 8x10 doesn't appeal much.

Sharpness appears to be identical in this trial between the Piezo and 
Epson drivers on the 1280.

If you are wondering, MIS VM with the Piezo driver gives a split 
toned print with warm shadows and highlights, and blue mid-tones.

Martin