Digital BW, The Print

> From: petexp2 <kafoozalem@...>

> 
> I am in the process of upgrading from the Epson 2100 to the 2400. I
> am aware that both printers use the same matte black ink which
> worries me a little. I mostly printed using Lyson's quad black inkset
> on the 2100 and the blacks were deep and satisfying though there were
> other problems.
> I was less satisfied with the blacks I achieved using the supplied
> Epson ultrachrome inks on Epson matte media. The prints had
> a "newspaper like" quality as a result of an insufficient tonal range
> despite a full range of tones in Photoshop ( "0" to about "240").
> These images look fine under glass but were inferior to darkroom
> prints in the hand. I suspect the paper I used may not have been the
> best -- Epson "watercolor" and "Heavyweight matte". I was also using
> the standard Epson printer driver.
> Can I expect better blacks using different matte papers?

Perhaps a little but not much.

>Would using 
> Ray Harrington's QTR have any bearing?

No not significantly

>Am I right in thinking some
> people use MIS eboni black instead of the Epson Ultrachrome matte
> black in their 2100 printers? Should I try this when it becomes
> available for the 2400?

Yes.  It will improve dMax by up to 10% on the thicker "fine art" papers.
It is ever so slightly weaker on EEM/EAM.

If you really want the same sort of dynamic range (or better) that is
achievable in traditional printing then try the new inks (with PK) on Epson
Preium Semigloss/matte paper.