Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie@a... 
wrote:
>
> 
> In a message dated 1/28/06 1:14:28 PM, sonrisenc@y... writes:
> 
> 
> > I'd like to touch base with anyone on this group using HP 
printers for
> > B&W inkjet printing. There's got to be someone out there, 
somewhere
> > besides me! Surely this group is not dedicated to Epson alone. :0)
> > 
> 
> HPs offer best longevity with swellable polymer gloss and luster 
media, so 
> those looking for art paper prints tend to use Epsons. Many of the 
tools for 
> specialty inks and drivers are available mostly for Epsons as well. 
If you are 
> talking about HP DeskJet desktop photo printers, with their black 
and two gray 
> inks, these can certainly be used for B&W prints, but the cost is 
high, and the 
> control tools are minimal. If you are talking about HP DesignJet 
medium and 
> wide format printers, then the linearization functions allow for 
good ICC 
> profiling for printing Black and White images with color inks, but 
there are 
> inherent limitations to this method. There are one or two other HP 
possibilities as 
> well. So, there are those who are involved in printing B&W on HP 
printers, its 
> just a more limited area, typically of less interest to the 
experimenters 
> that populate this list, than the Epson (or even the Canon) 
alternatives.
> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> ColorVision, Inc.
> CDTobie@c...
> www.colorvision.com
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Thanks for your comments. I would love to move up to a DesignJet, 
particularly since they are less expensive than Epson professional 
inkjet printers and the bulk inks are more affordable. It's not yet 
in my budget.

I plan to print and sell monochrome portraits, so they need to last. 
HP papers are OK, but I find there is limited selection, and the 
larger papers (Super B) are quite expensive, at least in my local 
office supply stores. I get decent results using Epson heavyweight 
matte with the HP dye inks, but it is not archival. I would like to 
print on matte fine art (rag) paper. 

Your comments about the photo gray inks are consistent with my 
experience. There's just not enough ink in those carts for serious 
printing.

I'm hoping the "limited" number of HP users you mentioned will 
respond. :0)

I'm really just getting started with this notion of using HP products 
instead of Epson for B&W printing. I'm tempted to go out and purchase 
a 1280 and convert it to a CIS system, but right now I have more 
pressing needs for the $600 that setup would entail. See some of my 
other responses for my hair-brained plans.

Sonrise