Digital BW, The Print

Oh, my Dog...Paul, don't get me started again!!! ;-)

While thinking about how I might swing getting a 4000 sometime 
next year, it also occurred to me that (1) I really, really don't
want to have to pay that much money *again* in order to print 
aritifact-free b/w on it (this is why my 1160 is staying in action 
here, in spite of my just having bought a 2200), and (2) ...well, 
having a "bigger 1160" *would* be fun, wouldn't it?

In short, once again I think you're onto something...finally, those 
of us hankering for bigger-format b/w but up to now were unable, 
or unwilling, to crack the wallet wide enough to do it in the past, 
may finally get the chance to move "one size up" with relatively 
little pain.

Looking forward to your progress with this.

- Barrett

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul 
Roark" <paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> It occurred to me that there will probably be a flood of Epson 
>3000s hitting the used market as the 4000 replaces them.  
>There are thousands of 3000s used in industry.  In fact, EBay 
>seems to be getting the beginnings of this flood now.  The 
>3000s are selling for $400 - $500.  (For a 16x20 printer, this is 
>cheap.)
> 
>Epson and others are also going to be selling lots more 
>papers in 17" widths - for the 4000.  Some of these will, of 
>course, also be good for the 3000.
> 
>So, I'm going to support the 3000 as the affordable quad 16x20 
>printer.
> 
>I'll load Ultra Tone inks into it first.  (One must flush with a 
>special MIS UC base before loading Eboni.)  I'll also make, at a 
>minimum, a new FS-N/Selenium (based on the UT inks) that 
>will be Piezo and Epson curves compatible.  (I may also make 
>an FS-Carbon if there is enough demand. However, the UT 
>inkset can print carbon, so I'm not sure it'll be worth the effort.)
  
>Also, of course, cross-platform curves will be made for these
>inks.
> 
>This should give B&W photographers on a budget a nice 
>affordable 16x20 platform.
> 
>So, novices can start with a $69 C82 and then go to 16x20 for 
>$400 and change.  (Add Picture Window for $50.)  Not a bad 
>deal for B&W photographers on a budget.
> 
> Paul
> http://www.PaulRoark.com