Digital BW, The Print

Joe wrote:

> My question is rather pedestrian.  However, can one achieve the
> quality of black and white prints with only 3 black inks compared to
> (at least MIS) 4 or 6 blacks for the C86/C88 and 1280 respectively? 
> thanks
>
>
> Joe
>
Basically, yes you can.

There are a handful of obvious variables. You have to be able to keep 
the print (mostly that means the highlights) appearing to be "dotless." 
You also have to get good smooth tonal transitions. IMHO, the major 
variables that effect these two things are dot size, and dot placement. 
That is, your machine has to make the *correct* dot size, not over and 
not under, and it has to place it in exactly the right place - not left, 
right, up, or down from the correct place.

So... can you successfully use three inks to print B&W with a 3000? 
IMHO, no. The dots are too big, and the machine is too imprecise.

Can you do it in a 7500? Probably not, but it's going to be closer than 
a 3000. I'll amend that, and say that some of the machines probably can, 
and some can't.

Can you do it with a 7600? Probably. It's sufficiently high enough in 
precision.

One of the claims to fame for the new printers is that they are more 
precise, and they are linearized at the factory. I suspect that they 
will do just fine with three gray inks.

The unasked question here is, can you do better with more than three 
gray inks? I think you can. The theory is that using more inks will give 
you ever smoother tonal transitions. It will also basically eliminate 
visible dots even with a moderate power loupe.
--
Bruce Watson