Digital BW, The Print

Clayton,

Thanks for the "update". 

I'm sure I'm not the only one who greatly appreciates your efforts.

Keep the "info" coming!

Scott

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Clayton Jones" 
<cj@...> wrote:
>
> Hello All,
> 
> I got the 2400 last year on August 11th, exactly one year ago.  
Seems
> like a good time for a summary, so I have gathered up some facts 
that
> may be of interest.  I saved all my empty carts, so here is the ink
> use for the year.  With the exception of a few small color
> experiments, this is almost exclusively for ABW prints at neutral 
to
> slightly warm settings.  These are in order of greatest use.  The
> whole numbers represent the number of empty carts, the decimal 
number
> is the % used in the current installed cart:
> 
> LLK---6.80
> LM----4.00
> LC----3.25
> K-----2.75
> LK----2.65
> Y-----2.00
> C-----1.90
> M-----1.45
> ----------------
> Total: 24.8 carts
> 
> Points of interest:
> - LLK is the most used, at 27% of the total
> - LM and LC together are 29%
> - The top 3, LLK, LM and LC combined are 56% 
> - Just the three blacks combined are 49%
> - The top 5 inks, 3 Ks + LC and LM, are 78%
> - The C, M and Y combined are 22%
> 
> So in rounded numbers, the ABW prints are about half blacks and 
half
> colors.
> 
> Note: My few experiments with color printing were with an image 
that
> had a lot of yellow.  I suspect that without those prints the 
Yellow
> use would be less than the Cyan.  
> 
> 
> Regarding longevity of these K3 inks, they have been in use for 
over a
> year now, and the latest data from Wilhelm Research, at
> 
>        http://www.wilhelm-research.com/epson/R2400.html
> 
> on Page 3 of 9, rates BW prints (in ABW mode) as follows, 
depending on
> the paper:
> 
> Framed under normal glass: 110 to >205 years
> Framed under UV glass: 110 to >300 years
> In dark album storage: > 200 years
> 
> I put a K3 print on my windowsill torture test (very bright 
daylight
> with some direct sunlight every day) last September.  After 10 
months
> I began noticing a slight hint of fading in a smooth middle gray 
area.
>  Now at 12 months it does not seem to have increased.
> 
> 
> As for cost, this adds up to 24.8 carts, or 2.06 carts per month.  
I
> buy them from Atlex at $11.20 each + shipping, so apprx $25.00 per
> month, or $300 for the year (actual cost was less if you subtract 
the
> original 8 carts, but this is a good round number for the long 
view).
> 
> This may or may not sound like a lot of money, but even if it was
> another hobby of some sort, $25 a month is not excessive (gasoline 
for
> weekend birdwatching expeditions could easily be more than that).  
So
> the ink cost is a significant issue, but worth it for me as I am
> extremely busy with my computer work most of the time and under a 
lot
> of time pressure, so not having to fuss with filling carts is a
> blessing right now.  And since I am selling prints I can report 
that
> the printer has more than paid for itself.  
> 
> The bottom line is that this printer has been trouble free (no 
clogs
> or jams during the entire year), is making very fine quality prints
> and is paying for itself.  It's a joy to use and has made a huge
> difference in my BW printing life.  It gives the freedom to just
> concentrate on the photography.
> 
> Regards,
> Clayton
> 
> 
> Info on black and white digital printing at    
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
>