Digital BW, The Print

> ... I'm thinking of getting a C86 to use with the MIS EZ inks dedicate
> to Black & White or a new 2200 for both color and B/W with the Epson inks,
> using the QTR rip for Black and White.
> 
> I'm interested in understanding how these two approaches compare.

The most obvious comparisons are that the C86 with MIS EZ inks will only do
B&W up to 8x10.  No rip is needed, and the approach is very inexpensive.

The 2200 will do B&W and color up to 13" wide, with QTR or other rip
required for the B&W.  The cost of the 2200 may be close to 10 times the C86
if those C86 rebates, etc. are still in effect.

The B&W quality of the 2 approaches should be close.  The C86 uses inks in
the color carts that are somewhat more dilute than the 2200's LK.  With all
its jets firing and no color contrast, the C86 might be a bit smoother than
the 2200 with LK and the color inks in the mix to tone the carbon.  However,
I don't have an objective measure of relative smoothness. 

A certain percentage of 2200's (like all Epson printers) band when less than
all the inks are used.  The use of all the inks in the C86 may help in this
regard, but then it's an even cheaper printer, and a certain percentage of
them are bad also.

The use of QTR should allow a wider choice of papers and tones.  The curves
must exist for QTR, however.  With the C86 you have simpler but more limited
controls in that the Epson sliders are what one uses to profile the paper,
and changing the carts is how the tones from cool to carbon warm are
achieved.

Both approaches can make very good B&W prints.  Other choices are the UT2
and UT7 dedicated B&W inksets in the 1280 and 2200.  These are smoother and
can do glossy and matte without changing the black ink.

Hope this helps.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com