Digital BW, The Print

Thanks to both you and Alistair for responding.

My thoughts were that if I were to go with the R2400 or Canon 9500, I 
would use the OEM inks. Macuser.co.uk put the 9500 "head, shoulders, 
knees and toes" above the other same class printers (R2400 & HP 
B9180) - http://www.macuser.co.uk/macuser/labs/151248. This is one of 
the reviews that nodged me towards the Canon, plus it comes with some 
cool software. By the same token the US based macuser if I recall, 
rated the R2400 on top. I understand now that the best way for me to 
choose is to purchase both, compare prints myself then return 
whichever I like less.

However. Since so many out there have had great results with 3rd 
party inks, I'm contemplating on giving it another try with a Canon 
1800. This brings me to another fork, choosing the ink (MIS vs 
Piezo). If anyone has some tips I'd be greatful. I normally print on 
matte papers.

Lastly, with the risk of annoying everyone, could anyone give me an 
idea on how do prints printed with current 3rd party ink compare with 
prints made with one of these newer printers with multi-channel black?
Thanks everyone for your help.

Robert.
 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Gaunt" 
<rh.gaunt@...> wrote:
>
> I would choose the Epson R2400 but qualify that by saying I have 
not seen prints from the 
> Canon.  My reasons are as follows - the Epson's 3 black inks will 
most likely produce a 
> better B&W print and more important you can run QuadToneRIP with 
the Epson. I am using 
> an Epson 2200 (2 black inks).  B&W prints with the Epson driver 
were lousy until I got QTR 
> which transformed the prints to really great (not just my opinion, 
got 2nd place B&W print 
> in the New England Camera Club Council competition recently).  I 
also have used the 
> R2400 at Santa Fe Workshops for B&Ws, just using the Epson software 
(no QTR) and the 
> prints were very good.  Ditto that with the equivalent HP printers 
SFW now has.
> 
> My digital SLR is a Canon 20D which I'm very happy with, so I have 
nothing against Canon.  
> Hope the above info is helpful, if not quite what you asked.
> 
> Walk in Beauty, Bob Gaunt
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Robert" 
<rczire@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi everyone, 
> > 
> > I'd like to ask for your feedback on choosing a B/W printer. 
> > 
> > Background: I have purchased a refurbished 1280 from Epson over a 
> > year ago, with UT2 inks from MIS. This was my first attempt to 
making 
> > the leap from darkroom to digital printing. Unfortunately I was 
never 
> > able to make this solution work, I constantly got lines across my 
> > prints, but only with the MIS inks, not the stock Epson ones. I'm 
not 
> > faulting the ink, maybe it was my refurb'ed printer. But after 
> > countless hours of research and troubleshooting (removing pizza 
> > wheels, etc) I've given up in dissapointment. I should say that I 
> > would only print maybe once a week to a few times per month. 
> > 
> > I am now on a new quest, this time I thought I won't cut corners 
with 
> > refurbished printers, etc, so I've been looking at the Epson 
R2400 
> > and the Canon PIXMA Pro 9500. Not because I necessarily need an 
A3 
> > printer, but because smaller ones don't come equipped with 
separate 
> > grey cartridge. With current rebates they can be had for under 
$600. 
> > After many hours of reading reviews, I am leaning towards the 
9500 as 
> > that seems to have better d-max (and the fact that I'm a EOS D30 
> > user). Though the Epson has 3 black/grey inks vs only 2 for the 
Canon.
> > 
> > So my questions are:
> > 1. has anyone compared prints from these two printers (R2400 & 
PIXMA 
> > Pro 9500), or has any feedback on choosing one vs the other?
> > 
> > 2. has anyone compared print quality between one of the above 
> > printers, and Roark's workflow with the Epson 800/1800?
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Robert.
> >
>