Digital BW, The Print

Hi peeps,

While I'm waiting for the keys to my new abode (which will finally 
provide me with room for that second printer!) I've just been re-
reviewing the inkset options in the light of what I've seen on 
Roy's "Dots, Dots" page. A few questions have cropped up that I'm 
hoping Paul, Roy and maybe Daniel S can help me with...

First off, how does UT for 4-colour printers achieve variable toning, 
or does MIS page lie when it says there are "4 shades of black" in 
this inkset? (http://www.inksupply.com/index.cfm?source=html/qn.html)

Next up, regarding UT2 on the same page MIS state that you need to 
switch blacks to go between matte and RC papers, but Paul's site says 
that Eboni will do both with the 1280:

http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/UT2-Readme.htm

I'm guessing that MIS say to use PK for gloss prints because this 
works without any curves. Then is it right that UT1 quad and hex also 
allow compatibility with all paper types provided Eboni is installed 
and the correct curve adjustments are made?

Then again maybe not... I recall in a previous message Daniel Stavers 
had this to say: "I'm planning to ditch my UT1 setup and use UT7 when 
it's available as well. I have some images that would look nice in 
sepia, and I will also enjoy doing some glossy printing again."  
Explanation anyone?

Thirdly, looking at the evolution from VM to UT, and considering 
Roy's comments about the lighter grey provided in the VMS set for the 
1160, is it true to say that the lightest UT grey is darker than the 
lightest VM grey in order to allow the "Easy B&W" functionality?


Underlying all this is my desire to meet certain goals in my prints. 
I'm mainly looking for smoothness, and if I ever do want to produce a 
rough and grainy image I'd prefer that to be a representation of the 
film grain rather than anything added by the printer. I want to be 
able to do cross-toning, and print well to matte and gloss papers. 
OTOH I *don't* particularly mind if I can't use the Epson driver, or 
if I need to spend a lot of time creating curves or profiles for the 
papers I settle on. I guess the best solution would be a septone 
inkset, with Eboni plus separate warm and cool greyscale sets of 
three inks each, with the lightest density being similar to the 
lightest ink in the VM set. That should give a level of smoothness 
akin to VM or a pure quadtone set, I reckon (anyone care to 
contradict?)

Roy, is there any reason why QTR couldn't do a good job of driving an 
inkset like that?

-= mike =-

PS. Sundance Septone is the only out-of-the-box solution to this, 
correct? And AIUI, it's not noted for its stability?