Digital BW, The Print

Happy Thursday, folks.  I took possession of a relatively new Epson 2200
today from a local acquaintance.  There were 23 carts included in the
purchase price, ranging from 2 photo black, 2 ea. (magenta, cyan), 3 ea.
(light black, light cyan), 4 (yellow) and 7! (Light Magenta) carts.  I
wonder if that has any implication for ink usage -- I'll have to go back and
have a chat with him about that -- but I suppose it really depends on the
images he printed.  Anyway a good bit more than half his asking price for
the printer was covered by the cost of all these carts!  After about 3
months with it he upgraded to a 4000 and practically gave me the 2200!  He
didn't have at hand the software CD that came with the printer, so I'm
downloading the driver from Epson and hope to 'find' a CD somewhere -- I
think it contains more information about the printer itself.  I have a
question that is not really clarified by the Printer Basics book, or on the
web site:  What IS the difference between Photo Black and Matte Black ink
carts?  I note that the Matte Black 'cannot' be used for any of the Epson
glossy finish papers -- that's what I expected to hear based on comments
made on this list.  So it (Photo Black) must be a different ink .... Right?
It dries quicker so it doesn't smear on the glossy paper?  But is it still a
pigment ink?  Is it as 'archival' as the Matte Black???  Same Dmax?  Or is
it dye based as is Durabrite, etc.?  If I'm ONLY printing on matte paper,
DOES IT MATTER which I use?  Eventually I'll go with the MIS Eboni
refillable cart -- when I use up what I've got and when I can FIND the thing
on the MIS web pages!  And tangentially, will it work out using the Photo
Black and Light Black to print BO?  I suppose that is empirical -- soon to
be determined first hand!  But it would be nice to know when I run into
snags whether it is me messing up or maybe its the wrong tools.  When I've
tamed the beast I'll seriously consider moving to Roy's QTR with Steve's
QTRgui and the right MIS inks -- but I've got a LOT of Ultrachrome ink to
use up before 2006 -- the expiry date.  Now I've got to go back and read all
that stuff I've collected about this kind of printing!  Clayton, your stuff
is first on my re-read list!  CARBON INK PRINTS here we come!  Thanks, all,
for helping me along.  Vic C.




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