Digital BW, The Print

Matt,
I don't know about B&W on the 1800 but on the 2400 with ABW, it's  
very good. It's as good to my eyes as what I have seen with Rips 
(using color inks), and with very little hassle.  Additonally, if you 
use BO for higher contrast less detailed images you have 2 good and 
easy methods to do B&W, and color on the same printer.  
SteveB 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Matt" 
<dweccl@h...> wrote:
>
> I know there are several posts on this topic already, but the
> technology keeps changing and I can't find any post that addresses 
my
> specific requirements.
> 
> I'm looking for a printer to get started.  I've done some 
traditional
> silver darkroom work and love the look of fiber based matte papers -
> RC never did much for me.  I also want to print color images (which
> presumably means semi-gloss or gloss).  Ideally, I'd like to print
> quality B & W and color prints from one printer due to space and
> expense considerations.
> 
> I'd also like the printer to have some longevity - i.e. when I'm 
able
> to get a second printer, I'd like it to work well as a dedicated B 
& W
> (using K7, MIS or other B & W ink sets) or color printer and have a
> carriage that takes 11 x 14 or larger paper and preferably roll 
paper.
> 
> If I have to jump through a bunch of technical hoops to get where I
> need to go I'm OK with that.  I'm sure I'll learn a lot in the 
process.
> 
> The Epson 1800 seems to fit most of my criteria, but I'm not sure 
how
> well I can print B & W on it without using the color inks.  I've 
seen
> b & w prints made from color inks and the color cast IMO would be
> unacceptable.  Maybe a RIP profile from QTR would work to do some 
kind
> of 100% black printing (as a poster on this board mentioned on their
> site a while back), but I'm not sure if the epson's support 100% 
black
> printing.  Is there a way to do all black printing on this printer? 
> If not, would an earlier epson (like the 2200) be a better way to 
go?
> 
> Another possibility would be a couple of used 1280's, but they would
> take up more space than I have and would have that irritating single
> cartridge for all colors thing (limiting ink sets I could use and
> costing more cash in consumables).  I'd also have longevity and
> support issues to consider as this printer ages.
> 
> I could maybe do a pair of R800's, but I wouldn't have the wide
> carriage and I'd be afraid of outgrowing this printer if it can't do
> sizes greater than 8.5 x 11.
> 
> If anyone knows if it's possible to do all black printing on the 
1800,
> I think that would be ideal.  If not, I'd welcome any alternatives 
you
> could suggest.
>