Digital BW, The Print

Bruce Watson wrote:

> ...
> The printer of choice for B&W right now would have to be the 7600/9600
> Epson LF printers. This is because the third party inksets work with
> them, and if you want the best of the best, you aren't going to print
> with color inks. Personally, I've got a 7600, and I've regretted not
> having a 9600 a lot. If you've got the money and the space, get the
> bigger machine.
> 
> For an inkset, it depends on whether you want a variable tone or a fixed
> tone inkset. If you have a particular tone you are after and are willing
> to do the work to nail that tone, then the MIS UT7 inks would work for
> you. If you want a fixed tone ink that gives you the most stable tone
> you can get from black to white, then the Cone PiezoTones may be
> appropriate.

I think the 7800/9800 with the third party inks will even be better than the
7600/9600.  But, they're not ready to go yet.  From my perspective, the k3
system will give me control of the Lab a axis, which now is a compromise and
subject to ink batch fluctuations.  The fade tests will have a major impact
on the inkset design I pursue.  Longevity is a critical element of B&W, in
my view.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com