Digital BW, The Print

Hello David,

>...we can expect even better dithering, and less colored ink in the 
>next generation of OEM drivers, perhaps even another level of gray...
>...I assume this all leans towards more options, more exposure for 
>serious B&W, and more interest in the field in general. I certainly 
>hope that leads to more opportunities for the full range of B&W 
>options.

You have touched on something that has flitted through my thoughts
several times over the past few months.  Specifically, whether Epson
(or C. or HP), assuming BW interest grows and they smell $, might
produce a dedicated BW ink set for the K3 printers with an appropriate
ABW-type driver for it.  Imagine an 8-ink set like this with an
additional gray

MK - matte
PK - glossy
LK
LLK
LLLK
LC 
LM
SEPIA TONER (or Glop?)

Or maybe warm/cool versions of the grays like UT-R2... or something.

Not to get bogged down in specifics, just am wondering if anyone
thinks this might happen.  After all, there was an entire industry of
BW darkroom products and services for many years.  Unless Scotty
beamed them up all those BW folks are still out there with a steady
stream of them crossing over.  Seems reasonable that this amount of
interest might be enough for the makers to support dedicated inks and
drivers for their existing printers.  How difficult would that be?  I
don't know how Epson views the BW-oriented response to K3, but just
from our viewpoint in this forum it has had a huge impact.  If they
see it as significant, and with their desire to hobble the 3rd party
ink market, they might go for it.  What do you think?


Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm