Digital BW, The Print

Time for me to stop lurking....

I am just getting back into some serious photography after many 
years away from it.  I was what I would call an advanced hobbyist 
for may years, but gotten away from it for various reasons.

I have recently started playing around with an old Epson SC 640 
printer and stock inks.... with the usual results and I have been 
looking for an inexpensive replacement printer to use while I bring 
myself up to speed with the newer digital imaging technology. I 
figured the time was right to combine my digital experience ( I am a 
PC Technician) and my love of fine art photographs.

At this time I do not have a lot of $$$$ to spend. I am recently 
remarried and have all of the expenses of starting fresh with my new 
family. I was seriously looking at the newer HP printer (7960) but I 
prefer the Epson printers. The C82 printer seems to fill the bill 
for me (price, performance, ect.)at this time. Once I gain more 
experience and cash I plan on moving up to a larger format printer.

The questions I have are:

1. Is this going to be offered by MIS as a kit or will I have to buy 
the components separately and prepare them myself? No problem for me 
with either approach.

2. Will this work with other papers as well (i.e. Epson Heavyweight 
Matte)?

As a newbie here I have gotten much in the way of useful information 
from this list. Thanks to all for the most interesting forum.

Joe Mahlmeister

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> OK, the affordable archival "carbon on cotton" printer is ready to 
go.
> 
> The Epson C82 is a 2880 resolution 4-ink printer that MIS/Amazon 
sell for
> $69.
> 
> No special software, curves, expertise, or even Photoshop are 
needed.  This
> is simple and straight-forward B&W printing for any novice.
> 
> The inkset is MIS Eboni black and Ultra Tone hex photo/light cyan 
(in all
> color spots).  MIS has cheap, easy-to-fill carts for this machine.
> 
> The image quality produced at "Best Photo" and ICM-No Color 
Adjustment, High
> Speed off (in the "Advanced" driver box) is amazingly good.  It 
may be the
> best ramp I've seen.  In my view, dots are not an issue with this 
printer
> and inkset.  You'll need a loupe to see any.
> 
> The only thing this little machine gives up is a deep dmax.  With 
PhotoRag
> it's 1.57.  This printer under-prints the 100% black spot/ink with 
the color
> inks like the Piezo driver.  As such, the dmax is compromised, but 
perhaps
> smoother.  On Permajet's (non-optically-brightened) "ISC" paper 
(which may
> be named "Academy Ultra White") the dmax is 1.55.  For now, 
PhotoRag is the
> paper I recommend for cotton/final prints.
> 
> I'll make a method to print neutral next.  It'll either be 3 
separate inks,
> or a single plug-in color cart -- like just replace the individual 
Yellow
> cart to change tones.
> 
> This is a mean little archival printing machine.
> 
> There is no excuse for anyone not archive old family B&W photos 
now.  No
> expertise nor much $ is needed to get great photos from this 
little printer
> and the MIS UT-C82 carbon inkset.  (MIS has not named the inkset.)
> 
> Paul
> http://www.PaulRoark.com