Digital BW, The Print

Mike,

Epson does not seem to recommend the 4000 as a photographer 
solution.  There has been some considerable discussion just recently 
regarding the 4000 having a slightly higher DMax than, say the 2200 
or 7600/9600, however, if you read more carefully, there is also 
some slight differences in the specs regarding color crossovers, 
metamerisms, and the quality of the entire black and white tonal 
range.  

Sounds like you are trying to strike a complicated balance weighing 
in b & w and color options, via native print drivers, custom 
workflows.... or RIPs.  It is easier for me because I only print B & 
W on EAM (EEM).  I have a common setup right now 1280, MIS FS 
quadtone inks, Piezo driver and a 1270 with MIS Variable tone using 
Roark workflow and customer curves.  My next move is the 7600 
without a doubt and likely to print UT .... I wish the 4000 would do 
the job, but I don't believe it will, at least not for black and 
white.  Love to here hands on experience from other group members.

Thanks for the nice analysis.

Regards,

James Sims
http://www.jamessims.com
http://www.lightroomphotography.com

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Botelho" 
<mfractl@h...> wrote:
> OK, based on absorbing lots of information in a very short amount 
of 
> time, I seem to have reached a choice between two options, using 
the 
> Ultra Tone inks on a dedicated B&W printer or using ImagePrint 
with 
> the Ultrachromes on a 7-color Epson printer.  Assuming that the 
> ImagePrint prints will also display no matamerism (correct me if 
I'm 
> wrong), here is how I've come to understand both options:
> 
> Option 1: Ultra Tones on a dedicated B&W printer:
>      -high quality results with no metamerism
>      -avoids colored inks fading before black ink
>      -choice of warm, neutral, cool toning
>      -an expensive RIP not needed
>      -would end up spending money on a separate printer for color
> 
> Option 2: Ultrachromes/ImagePrint on Epson 7-color printer
>      -high quality results with no metamerism (due to the use of 
more
>          colors)
>      -colored inks could conceivably fade before the black ink
>      -some, limited, control over toning
>      -high cost of RIP, increasing considerably for WF models (but
>          the RIP would also be extremely useful for color printing)
>      -could print B&W on the same printer, which could save quite a
>          lot if we're talking WF (though the increased cost of a WF
>          RIP would eat up a god chunk of that)
> 
> So, is that a good estimation?  Am I wrong anywhere?  Are there 
other 
> advantages or drawbacks to either choice?
> 
> Also, there's the upcoming Epson 4000 that will supposed have 
drivers 
> that will handle B&W better.  (Will this mean new drivers for the 
> 2200/7600/9600 that also do better?)  Plus, having Photo Black and 
> Matte Black available as a software change makes it all the more 
> viable as a printer for both color and B&W.  (Though I'm unsure if 
> I'd be willing to pay that much more than the 2200 for a few extra 
> inches.  At that point, why not just spend a bit more and go with 
the 
> 7600 and get an impressive size increase, I think, maybe.)
> 
> Mike