Digital BW, The Print

>>...black-only, which was not really that simple when I tried it.
>>Black-only has problems with dither banding on certain dark
>>areas which can ruin a print. 

>But just so the message below doesn't put you off of black only
>entirely, I've had none of the problems mentioned in that 
>message when I've used black only with the Epson 2200
>printer and MIS Eboni black ink. The prints look, to my eyes 
>at least, very good and are more consistently neutral than 
>the prints I get using MIS VM inks in my Epson 1280 printer. 
>While I wouldn't tell you that black only is the best way to go, 
>it is an easy, inexpensive way. Even if you don't like
>the results, all you've spent on it is about $10 for the Eboni
>cartridge and a few minutes of time.

I agree completely.  BO is a great way to get started because it's
inexpensive, doesn't prevent you from trying other systems, and is as
easy as it gets (no RGB curves, paper profiles, etc).  As for it being
"not really that simple", all I can say is no system is totally
brainless if you want really good results.

As for dither banding, that is largely a matter of good head alignment
and other mysterious printer issues and all systems are prone to it. 
I have seen gorgeous BO prints without any of it, and have seen prints
from all the other systems (QTR, IP, Piezo, Septone, UC, VM, UT, UT2,
UT7, etc) with bad cases of it (and everything in between).  So I
believe it is incorrect to brand any system as being more prone to it
than others.  

At the current state of the art (assuming good results are desired),
BW digi printing takes hard work, a modicum of intelligence, patience
and perseverence - no matter what system is used.  For a beginner
there is a HUGE amount of material to absorb, not only the printer
system, inks and papers, but using Photoshop as well.  Some people are
technically inclined and like to tweak and tinker, some are barely
computer literate.  I recommend BO for beginners because it is the
cheapest, quickest, easiest and least intimidating way to get started,
produces beautiful luminous prints with intense Dmax, and still allows
color printing.   Everything learned while using it will be helpful
if/when the user decides to try other systems.

Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm