Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "zdirk99"
<ausdlk@s...> wrote:
I started with an Epson 2200 and ultrachrome inks and was totally
dissatisfied with the b&w printing.  So, I went to the 1280 (got a
reconditioned one on the internet so saved some money) and went to the
Piezography inks (selenium tone).  I quickly moved to the CIS system
because the ink gets used up so quickly.  I had some problems with the
CIS system and found InkJetMall.com very responsive and helpful. 
After a number of fixes, they finally sent me two new complete sets of
cartridge and tubes, the first of which worked perfectly.  I have the
second as backup.  Sometimes the inks are not always in stock so you
may have to wait.  But, overall, I have been extremely happy with them
as a supplier and the quality of the output.  The one downside:  you
cannot use any type of glossy paper or the premium luster type of
paper which is my preferred paper.  You must use a matte paper and the
Hahnemuhle (spelling?) is a good paper.  The ultimate test as far as I
am concerned is that a serious photography collector (I mean real
serious, he has his own gallery in the SF Museum of Modern Art) saw my
work and said it was the first time he had seen digital prints that
looked like real photographs, and he took two of them.  The only other
limitation of the 1280 is the size, you can't get wider than 13
inches.  And I am unwilling to buy a 7600 yet to dedicate to b&w prints.

Mike

 
> Okay all you gurus out there, I want you to weigh in on this before 
> I start flashing my credit card around. I do not have a printer 
> suitable for high-quality black & white printing so I'm starting 
> from scratch.
> 
> Please vote and offer your suggestions/recommendations on (A) or (B) 
> as a starting point for an experienced computer user, photographer, 
> and darkroom trained b&w printer. Of course, if you have a (C) or 
> (D), I'd like to hear about those too.
> 
> (A) an Epson 2200 with Eboni inks and Epson Enhanced Matte paper for 
> black only (BO) printing as described by Clayton Jones at 
> http://www.cjcom.net/articles/digiprn3.htm
> 
> (B) an Epson 1280 with the Piezography BW icc system as hawked by 
> the InkjetMall at http://www.inkjetmall.com/store/bw2/bw-buy.html
> 
> Let's assume for now that I will not be using a CIS and that I'm not 
> necessarily loo
king for the least expensive method.