Digital BW, The Print

Clayton,

I appreciate the help. Here's my answers to the questions you posed:

1.  I'm using two different printers at the moment and am not adverse to that. 
Although, I must say, the simplicity of using one printer for both certainly 
appeals on a certain level.
2. I do like working with curves. Even with the EZ MIS inks, I still apply curves 
using adjustment layers and other PS tools. I like to fiddle with the print. I have 
never used profiles or a RIP.
3. I haven't been able to obtain good tonal range in BW by mixng color ink 
dots so far in my digital printing experience. I do like the richness of of the MIS 
carbon inks. However, I have been experimenting with Russel Brown's "photo 
toner" action lately and liking some of the effects of BW sepia toned prints it 
produces on the R200.
4. I'm sorry, but I don't understand this question.
5.  Well, I started with prefilled carts and recently ordered the refillable ones. 
Too early to say. I got the refillable ones for economy because, obviously, the 
prefilled carts are simpler.
6. Not adverse to combining, though I haven't yet interchanged inks except to 
replace the Eboni black with Photo Black for paper types.
7. I like a little bit of testing, but would like to find a combination that is 
consistent and reliable that I can always go back to.

I'm assuming I would get comparable (or better) results from the 1280 and 
carbon inks that I'm getting now from the C86. I haven't seen 2400 prints in 
real life and am, at this point, relying on comments in this forum, which seem 
to indicate that the 2400 produces fine art quality BW. Perhaps that's naive.

I hope I've answered sufficiently.

Cheers,
George

> With so many options available it's hard to make a decision. 
> Answering these questions may help narrow it down:
> 
> 1) Do you want to do both color and BW with one printer?
> 
> 2) Do you like working with curves/profiles and RIPs or would you want
> a simpler workflow with the native printer driver?
> 
> 3) Do you have any preference for tonal range obtained by mixing color
> ink dots on the paper vs toned grayscale inks?
> 
> 4) If you're ok with the color ink dot approach, do you prefer that
> yellow is included or omitted in the toning?
> 
> 5) Do you want to use bulk inks with refillable carts or prefer
> prefilled carts?
> 
> 6) Are you averse to combining inks from different sets or would you
> prefer a complete ready-made ink set?
> 
> 7) Do you like experimenting and testing or do you prefer to find
> something and settle down with it?
> 
> 
> It's amazing that there are so many ink/printer combinations and
> various ways of using them that even as it's gotten easier to make
> good BW prints it's also gotten harder to decide what to use.  With
> the 2400 alone there are already four or five different ways to use
> it.  I think if you have solid preferences or answers to these
> questions it will be easier to find the solution that's best for you.  
> 
> Regards,
> Clayton
> 
> 
> Info on black and white digital printing at    
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
>