Digital BW, The Print

> run4alife@... wrote:
>
> likely the best way to go...so i bought one yesterday
> a Epson stylus Photo  R280. Same problem...prints don't
> come out black and white...any  suggestions?

That is a great little printer. Excellent technology for very little 
money. If you happen to buy one when buying a digital camera you can 
get a rebate that makes them almost free.

Pual has a quick run-down on the different options - origional inks, 
black ink sets, QTR - on how to run b&w for that and similar printers 
at his web site:

http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/R260.htm


The first question is whether you would like to/are able to use it as 
a dedicated B&W-only printer?

It sounds like you may want to do that, as you mention that you have 
the Canon.  

The next question is, what kind of prints do you want. Cool tones, 
neutral tones, warm toned? The ability to change or mix those? Matte 
paper or photo paper?

You might want to get a set that lets you mix or change from cool to 
warm if you are just learning. Then you can decide what you like.

When you are ready to buy inks, you have basic two options.  Get them 
pre-loaded loaded in carts, like the regular Epson inks, or buy a 
CIS - continous inking system - and buy bulk inks to laod in it.

Either will cost you about the same toatl amount of money to start.  
The CIS will be much cheaper in the long run.  My persoanl choice - 
and my advice - would be to buy a $50 CIS off of Ebay, then buy some 
bulk inks from MIS or whomever.

A set of 6 inks, with 4oz of each ink (about 120 ml of each 
dilution), will cost $108 at MIS (for the UT inks.)  

http://www.inksupply.com/r260_blackandwhite.cfm

The CIS will cost about $50 plus shipping. For a total of $160 or so 
you will have a system that produces great B&W prints, as good as 
what we are running in our $3,000+ printers.  

Pick a couple of good quality papers to start with.  Experiment with 
tones, converting color to B&W in Photoshop, etc.  By the time you 
use up the first set of inks you should have quite a bit of 
experience. Then you can decide what you like, and what to do 
for "next steps."  

Probably the only limitation of that set-up that might cause you to 
make changes later is the maximum print size, if you want to make 
larger prints.

Good luck!

Best,
Michael