Digital BW, The Print

Hi,

   I just found this forum this week and I have a few questions that have probably been asked and answered a hundred times.

   First, I have an Epson 1270 I'm using for color printing using Mediastreet Enhanced Generations pigment inks. I want to be able to do B&W digital and I've been looking at the MIS inks. There seems to be a suggestion that by using cleaning cartridges you can routinely switch back and forth between various ink cartridges on a 1270. I am suspicious that this is far from easy and I'd be better off getting a printer and dedicating it to B&W inks. Especially considering that I can pick up a used 1270 for the cost of 2 or 3 filled cartridges, trashing a couple or cartridges would pay for a second printer. Any comments?

   Second, if I do get a second printer is a 1270 really the best choice for B&W (at least at similar cost). I've seen recommendations that an Epson 1160 would be better since it has fewer colors, others suggesting an Epson 1200 since it has not IC in the cartridge, others suggesting a 2000P since it was designed for pigment ink and many others saying not to waste your money on Epson printers at all (these seem to suggest $5000 printers that wouldn't fit into my apartment). Any opinions here?

   Third, back when I did old fashioned wet darkroom work, my favorite paper was Dupont Varilour Double Weight Glossy which I dried without ferrotyping. When that went away I changed to Ilford Gallerie which was lots more expensive and almost as good. These papers gave a smooth surface (and great detail) without much gloss. Does anyone have an opinion about a paper I can get that will come close to this and work with pigmented inkjet ink? The Epson Matte is nice, but not at all the same.

   Fourth, do most people on the list use pre-filled cartridges, or do you fill your own? Is filling cartridges much or a hassle?

   Sorry if these are all "asked and answered" questions - but from what I've seen, you guys seem to know what you are doing -- and I don't.

Chuck Peacock