Digital BW, The Print

I've got an R260 that I've started playing with -- I expect the 1400 is pretty similar.
The Epson's touting of 5 drop sizes is a bit of marketing hype IMO.  It's still a 3 dropsizes
at a time printer just like all the other recent printers.   The difference is that they
have more choices in what 3 sizes can be used but you must still pick the set of 3
before any printing.

The thing to realize in all cases is that the smallest size determines the dottiness in
the highlights, the largest size times the resolution must be enough to provide
enough ink for dMax.  The old printers always gave you 3 sizes that were consecutive
like 1,2,3 or 2,3,4 the R260 has 1,2,3 or 1,2,4 or 1,3,5 or 2,3,5.   Does all this make
a difference?  It's hard to tell.  I expect low res, fast printing may benefit but for the
best high res printing it's probably a toss up.

I think one of the advantages of Paul's multi-eboni approach is that he can keep the
ink limits of the individual channels low enough to stay in the small dot range but
still get to dMax because he has multiple channels firing.

Roy


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Carl Schofield <list@...> wrote:
>
> Paul,
> 
> Do you know what the dot size distribution is across the tonal scale  
> for these "1.5 pl" printers?  Epson describes the new printers, not  
> as 1.5 pl printers, but rather Dx5 variable drop size.  I'd assume  
> that the smallest drop size (1.5pl) is used only in the highlights,  
> but I don't really know that.  Here is Epson's blurb:
> "With DX5 (droplets x 5 sizes), each nozzle has advanced capabilities  
> to discern and adjust the ink droplet size based on the needs of your  
> print job."
> 
> Can you look at a 21 step printed grayscale and actually see  
> different drop sizes on the print?  Could also be resolution  
> dependent where smallest drop sizes are only used at highest printing  
> resolution.
> 
> Carl
> 
> On May 28, 2007, at 3:24 PM, Paul Roark wrote:
> 
> > Hi Myron,
> >
> >> For purely B&W printing using 3rd party B&W inks,
> >> is there any advantage to the Epson 1800 over the 1400?
> >
> > I'm waiting for my 260 to arrive.  I'll let people know as soon as  
> > I can get
> > it running with my new approach.  Hopefully, I'll have the multi- 
> > channel
> > Eboni approach running in that under $100 printer soon.
> >
> >> Both have 1.5 picolitre jets, and both will handle 13" paper.
> >> The 1800 has eight heads, while the 1400 has six, but this
> >> should not be an issue with B&W.
> >
> > Yes, 3 channels appears to be all that are needed.
> >
> >> Will QTR work with the 1400?
> >
> > I expect QTR support is not too far off.  Also, I think I can set  
> > up an
> > Epson driver workflow with the 260/1400.
> >
> >> Aside from that, is there any reason I
> >> should not save the $150-$200 and get the 1400?
> >
> > The relative build quality and paper handling will be issues I'll  
> > be looking
> > at.  One the one hand the 1400 is a second generation 1.5 pl  
> > machine, so
> > Epson may actually have learned a few lessons that will allow it to  
> > improve
> > the printing.  On the other hand, it's cheaper.  Some of the cheaper
> > printers show it.
> >
> > Paul
> > www.PaulRoark.com
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>