Digital BW, The Print

Ummm, I was asking about the statement that the 7960 is supposed to 
print b&w better than a 7660, which is something that I tested and 
could not reproduce, even though there is one well written review 
that shows a super compelling example of the supposed difference.  If 
I could have reproduced the difference in quality I would have 
purchased the 7960.

I also have both an 1160 and the 7660.  I get much more accurate 
gradients out of the 7660, but the 1160 dither pattern is better.  
The 7660 allows up to 8.5x14" prints which means you can get a nice 
full-frame 8x12" print out of one, which isn't that bad really.

I have only printed on HP Photo Premium Plus Glossy since that is the 
only paper rated at 100+ years with this printer.  It is quite nice 
paper once you get used to the gloss (heck, it took me a while to get 
used to matte only on the 1160).

What do you mean by, "bluish cast to BW rgb prints?"  Are you really 
printing your B&W using the rgb inks?  I don't see anything that I 
would call a blue cast when using the #59 cart... though, like all 
b&w prints, they do have some inherent tone (and yes, I do somewhat 
prefer warmer toned prints from MIS pigments).  

I don't know what you mean "doesn't measure up for a production 
printer of quality BW photos."  I just delivered a stack of matted 
8x12 prints from mine to my gallery and got nothing but praise... the 
printer *can* produce a quality b&w photo.

I also disagree that the 7660 carts are difficult to swap, I find the 
system very well designed and unlike the 2200 is doesn't dump a huge 
quantity of expensive ink each time you swap a cart.  Personally, 
I've never printed text on the 7660 since I would rather pump ink 
through my 1160 though... and then I also have a LaserJet.

mark

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Tom OConnell" 
<tomoc@y...> wrote:
> I have a 7960 and a room full of Epson printers. I was very 
intrigued 
> by the photoblack which I knew would allow me to make some Glossy 
BW 
> prints.
> 
> Comparing the 7960 to the 1160 is weird...the 1160 is a 10 year old 
> printer (but on really good matte paper with MIS or Piezo inks, it 
> will definitely hold it's own against the 7960 in print quality) 
and 
> it definitely requires some care and feeding to use inks in it that 
> were not part of the design (i.e. pigment ink). That said, most 
> people haven't had too much trouble keeping it working fine.
> 
> Let's talk about the 7960...very expensive ink...very...buy your 
> cartridges by the dozen, at least. Very intrusive software...it 
wants 
> to load everything under the sun...if you buy one, ignore all 
> installation instructions and simply add a printer from in the 
print 
> driver function of your computer...DO NOT LOAD and HP 
software...very 
> quirky and unstable for me at least. 
> 
> 7960 print quality may turn out to be ok...so far I'm finding a 
> bluish cast to BW rgb prints that I don't like at all. I've also 
> found that most papers require you to "catch" them one at a time 
and 
> set them out to dry individually for at least an hour before they 
are 
> ready to be handled at all. At the fine print setting, it prints 
very 
> very slow. Changing the carts in and out from photo to black is 
> somewhat more cumbersome than the Epson 2200 and wastes a little 
ink 
> as well. (printing text with the photo cart isn't really an 
> option...it winds up as gray text).
> 
> All of that said, I may keep the 7960 for the ocassional glossy 
8x10 
> and for the extra tray for holding 4x6 paper for the ocassional 
> snanpshot sized pic that can still be a very good desktop text 
> printer, but it just doesn't measure up for a production printer of 
> quality BW photos.
> 
> Remember the 7960 is limited to letter sized prints. I don't know 
the 
> epsons that are letter size printers, but I think there are a 
number 
> of them now that have most of the technology of the 2200 (4000, 
7600, 
> 9600). You might want to consider one of these printers...you will 
> have the benefit of the installed base and expertise of the users 
of 
> the above printers (not a small factor when I made my first choices 
> in just about the same position you are in today ((btw, mine was a 
> 1270 followed by a few 1160s for BW). Espon printers allow a lot of 
> flexibility in the way of third party ink, commercial RIPs (if that 
> ever interests you) and this forum (not a epson forum but by far 
the 
> largest following here).
> 
> Whatever you get, stop back here...there will surely be someone who 
> can help you work through issues (you will have some issues with 
ANY 
> printer <g>).
> 
> cheers,
> 
> Tom O'Connell
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Mark Hahn" 
> <markhahn2000@y...> wrote:
> > Have you concluded this yourself or are you repeating what is 
shown 
> > on *one* website review????  When I tested both printers the 
> > dither/banding was identical on both printers and several HP reps 
> > have said that that part of the driver is identical, only the 
color 
> > handling is different (and the heads are of course identical).
> > 
> > mark