Digital BW, The Print

Hi Mike,

I know you said "discouraging words" in jest, but I really want to 
emphasize that my suggestions were sincerely encouraging you to move 
in a direction that wouldn't leave you discouraged with digital B&W 
printing due to lack of support for the Photo EX ;>)

That said, there are lots of people printing on older equipment, I'm 
sure -- so it just depends on how much energy you want to invest on 
your own in getting a relatively unsupported printer working and 
producing prints that meet your expectations.

The difference in the level of response you'll receive when posting a 
question on the forum about a problem you're having getting good 
results with an Epson 1280 (just as an example) versus an Epson Photo 
EX is likely to be substantial -- only because so few people 
currently have experience doing quad printing with the Photo EX.

Combine that with the fact that there are very few published curves, 
profiles or RIPs (like QTR or IJC/OPM) that support that printer 
along with available inkset limitations (Paul could better respond to 
this, but I'm not sure the latest MIS inks and curves are even being 
produced for the Photo EX) -- anyway, it just seems like an 
invitation to getting frustrated and discouraged in itself ;>)

Since you're not already invested in a quad system for the Photo EX, 
it would be a better path to put that money into supplies (carts or 
inks and a CIS) for a current model. In the end, unless you're buying 
into the Epson Pro Line printers, we spend much more on inks and 
media than that one-time "bite" of purchasing the printer itself. 

You can get completely set up with a C86 and MIS inks for about a 
hundred dollars -- or if you are comfortable going onto eBay to make 
a purchase, you can pick up a larger printer at very reasonable cost.
Then you have all the generous resources of Paul's curves, MIS 
support as well as all the other fine people of this forum who will 
be using the same printer and inksets and can help you through the 
initial learning curve of getting good digital B&W output. Make sense?

Of course, once you're able to produce prints that you like and 
you're feeling confident with how to fine-tune the workflow, you can 
always go back and play with the Photo EX -- or, you can use it as 
you suggested for color work, text output or printing documents, 
correspondence and such. No need to toss it ;>)

Anyway, that's my two cents and probably more than you asked for. 
BTW, since you mentioned you do "archival rag color prints" already, 
are you using an Epson Ultrachrome printer for that? If so, take a 
look at QTR -- it does a very nice job with digital B&W output for 
less than the cost of a set of quad inks for any Epson printer...

Cheers!
Richard

 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "mbrouphy" 
<mbrouphy@y...> wrote:
> Richard,
> Thanks for the discouraging words...<LOL> It's just I hate to throw 
> out equipment especially if there's still life in them there bones.
> 
> So, I guess I could use it for small prints that are non-archival 
> color prints that are destined to be less expensive alternatives to 
> the archival rag color prints I do.  There is the possibility of 
> using the MIS Quad inksets they have available for the EX.
> 
> Any thoughts? I appreciate your assistance...Mike
> 
> --- In 
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "richard_h95050" 
> <richardh@j...> wrote:
> > Mike,
> > 
> > Yes, the Photo EX is a good old workhorse (I think I've still got 
> one 
> > kicking around here) -- but the operative term is "old". It's a 
> > bit "long of tooth" when it comes to the rapidly evolving area of 
> > digital B&W printing...
> > 
> > Black only is really designed for the newer printers like the 
2200 
> or 
> > the 1280 and takes advantage of their advanced printhead 
technology.
> > The same holds true for most of the current B&W printing 
> techniques --
> > that is, they offer greater support for the newer printers and 
very
> > limited support for older models like the Photo EX.
> > 
> > Given the low cost of entry to pick up a good new or used current
> > model Epson, it would be worth your while to consider doing that. 
> The 
> > most compelling reason for that suggestion is the tremendous 
amount 
> > of support (ink choices, profiles, curves, RIPs, etc.) that are
> > available for them and lacking for the Photo EX.
> > 
> > If you're serious about wanting to explore digital B&W, it would 
be 
> > much easier to be working with the printers and inksets that you 
> see 
> > discussed on this (and similar) forums. Otherwise, you will be 
> having 
> > to do a lot of unnecessary experimentation on your own, and that's
> > time better spent making prints on a well-supported platform ;>)
> > 
> > No need to throw away the trusty Photo EX, though -- there's 
always 
> > other tasks you can dedicate it to...
> > 
> > Hope this is helpful.
> > 
> > Richard 
> > 
> > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "mbrouphy" 
> > <mbrouphy@y...> wrote:
> > > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Douglas
> > meeuwsen 
> > > <lipshurt@m...> wrote:
> > > Doug,
> > > Hmmm...I didn't get that impression from reading quite a bit of
> > info 
> > > on the group about the c86 and Eboni.  However, if the full EZ
> > system 
> > > works well, then I can go with that.  My first choice would have
> > been 
> > > to work out black only printing on a Photo EX.  It's a great
> > printer 
> > > and I'd hate to see it hit the rubbish pile! Any experience or 
> > > knowledge on this one, Doug.
> > > 
> > > Thanks,
> > > Mike