Digital BW, The Print

Barbara,
Hello and welcome!
As others have stated, there is a alot to overwelm ones self in this 
forum. But I have gotten more helpful and usful information from this 
forum on printing, than from any of the other forums out there. There 
are some(alot of) very knowledgable B&W inkjet printers that bring
(freely, I might add) some top notch info, so hang on. The trip is 
well worth it! As to the MIS inks, I started with the original 
hextone set and have moved on to the UltraTones using Paul Roarks 
curves, and love them. The original Quadtones(Hextones for the 6 ink 
printers)produced prints that were too warm for my liking. So when I 
started reading about Pauls work with the UT inks, I followed along. 
When they became available, and my inksupply was coming to an end, I 
ordered the UT's. In my short(about 2 years)experience in B&W inkjet 
printing, I am sold on these inks. I have done B&W darkroom printing 
for about 30 years, and am very pleased with what these inks can do. 
If you want a very good inkset, very reasonably priced, that can 
produce a very good neutral B&W, then the MIS Ultratones are the way 
to go. With the UT inks using the eboni, you HAVE to print on matte 
papers, as eboni and glossy don't go together. Since you are keeping 
a printer for color, I'm assuming that the 1270 will be dedicated to 
B&W. The MIS UT's could be loaded into carts for you 1270 or you 
could use a CIS(Continous Inking System). I use the 1200 for my B&W, 
which precided your 1270, so the 1270 will do a good job for you. As 
for papers, I have a stock pile of Eclipse, which is no longer 
available but has been replaced with MOAB papers. Basically, you want 
a good 100% cotton or rag paper with little to no Optical Brighting 
Agents, or OBA's. There are many brands to look at and just as many 
fine papers to choose from. Alot comes down to the whiteness and 
texture of a type of paper and of course price range. I went thru the 
trouble to put together a notebook with paper samples from various 
paper suppliers, so that I can get an idea of how the paper may feel 
or how white it may be. You'd be surprised at the different whites 
that are available.
A side note: UltraTone inks are MIS(a 3rd party vendor)B&W inkset.
             UltraChrome inks are Epson propritary COLOR inks for
             2200 and larger printers. 
I hope that was of some help. Again, welcome to a great group!

KeithR
  
--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Barbara Lee 
Spinnenweber <bspinnenweber@t...> wrote:
>  Unfortunately, I've become overwhelmed.
>  
> Simply put, I would like to get my Epson 1270 printer to print nice 
black
> and white prints. Currently I have the Epson inks. I have lots of 
paper
> brands, but not the Epson Archival/Matte stuff, just regular matte. 
Not the
> Photo Rag stuff or Somerset Velvet either. I've got Ilford, Epson, 
Red
> River, etc. I'll get what I need with whatever inks that I finally 
buy. So
> let me know if you reply and suggest an ink that would go with my 
printer
> (1270), then mention the paper too.
>  
> So, to the inks:
> > turned towards the MIS system. I nearly bought the MIS Quadtone, 
but I made
> the mistake of reading more stuff (Ultratone) and am treading 
water. Now I'm
> reading about black only (BO) printing using Eboni. Then I read 
about UT-2.
> It took me a couple of days to figure out UT-2 is the new version of
> UltraTone, which will be out in a couple of weeks. Then I got 
confused about
> UltraTone (blacks) and UltraChrome (color?). In which some people 
are making
> b/w prints with UltraChrome.
>  
> AGH!!!
>  
>
> MIS UT - doesn't do a good job on glossy? But great on Epson 
Archival matte
> MIS UT-2 - might be good on glossy? and matte
> Either way, majority of my b/w prints will be on matte. But, I 
suppose there
> will be occasions for glossy.
>  
> MIS UT (both 1 & 2) is pigment (carbon) not dye and can supposedly 
be used
> w/o buying cleaning cartridges 'cause they are the same alkalinity 
as Epson
> inks...(sounds good, but seems weird if I'm taking dye inks out and 
putting
> pigment in)
> MIS UT-2 lasts longer than UT-1 or about the same? Did I read that 
last post
> correctly of 200 years. Heck, that'll work for me!
> MIS UT (both 1 & 2) is better than the MIS Quadtone? I don't 
remember why, I
> just read something and stored the basics in my brain.
>  
> On the Black Only (BO) printing, is that only done with Eboni ink? 
Who makes
> it? Epson doesn't make it for the 1270.
> I've tried BO with my regular Epson black and wasn't exactly 
thrilled with
> the results. I tried mixing with colors too and get obvious color 
(greenish
> on semi-matte) in my prints. I like Sepia (sometimes), but would 
much prefer
> a neutral black for most of my printing.
> Does this BO work with the MIS system? I don't think they make 
Eboni for the
> 1270. Maybe they do? I lost the webpage.
> The BO printing last a long time too?
>  
> Hypothetically if I were to hang these prints in a gallery....what 
would be
> my best option (besides chemical darkroom and Cones Piezo.)?
> If I where to sell these prints, what would give me peace-of-mind 
knowing
> that I'm giving my customer a good print?
>  
> I have Photoshop (and I'm not afraid to use it.)
>  
> I also have an Epson 785 EPX (but I'd like to keep that one 
color 'cause I
> tend to bring it traveling occasionally)
>  
> I can't afford the 2200 or 2000 or whatever that thing is. Besides, 
my
> boyfriend would have a conniption fit if I bought ANOTHER printer!
>  
> So, I'd really appreciate it if I could get some help to clear up 
my clogged
> head. Please keep your reply in non-technical terms - and thanks in 
advance
> for replying. Once I decide on some kind of system, then I'll 
anxiously
> purchase and then delve deeper to learn what I need to know (curves 
or
> whatever).
>  
> I guess I'm torn between the two systems (MIS UT or BO) and am 
wondering if
> I'm leaving another option out. I'm not to keen on using color to 
make a
> black and white print. But, I can be persuaded (with proof).
>  
> Oh, the only color calibrating software I have besides Adobe Gamma 
is
> Colorific (I think that's what it's called)...but I can't find the 
little
> blue card thingy...so adobe gamma will be it unless I find that 
card. I also
> have a flatbed (Espon 2450) and a film scanner (Minolta Dimage 
Dual). I
> don't trust my eyes on the color calibrating thing and wish that 
one day I'd
> get that spyder or other color calibrating thingy-ma-jig that 
sticks on the
> monitor.
>  
> I guess that's enough for now. I think I gave y'all enough info 
about me so
> that somebody can help me out.
>  
> Thanks,
> Barbara
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]