Digital BW, The Print

[Posted this, but never received a copy back,
	 so am re-sending to the list.  Sorry if this
	 actually is a duplicate post. -- Arthur]

I've been printing all my black and white on a pair of Epson 3000's 
(one at home, another at work), using MIS UT-FS ink and an old 
Piezography driver.  Print quality is excellent, but speed is slow 
slow, and paper handling is a problem on heavier papers.

So, I'm getting ready to ditch one or both of these, and move to one 
of the K3 printers.  That means Epson R2400, 3800, 4800, etc.

My old Epson R800 bit the dust, and so I also need a printer that I 
can take with me to dance festivals or workshops, where I may be in 
residence for one to three weeks.  My print needs there are less 
demanding (mostly color work prints or contacts), but the ability to 
carry the printer is important.  With that constraint, I'd not get a 
4800 or larger.

So, I'm left to decide between the R2400 and 3800.  The ability of 
the 3800 to print 17" x 22" sheets (actually 17 x 25) is nice but not 
important.  I'm not sure that I'd ever use the narrow roll paper that 
the R2400 accepts.  From all the reviews I've read, print quality is 
comparable.

With this analysis, the biggest difference for me would be 80 ml ink 
carts in the 3800 vs 15 ml in the R2400 -- and a consequent reduction 
in ink costs.  Since I may print as many as 700 8-1/2" x 11" work 
prints on one on-site project, ink cost can add up.  In theory, it 
seems simple -- carts for the 3800 hold about five times as much ink, 
but cost only three or four times as much.  I'd assume that the 
difference is greater, because much ink is wasted in the smaller carts.

However, I'm mindfull of the adage:  "In theory, theory and practice 
are the same.  In practice, they are not."  Does my theory hold up?

Have any of you had experience with both of these printers ... or 
with either one ... that would lead you to offer any advice?  Any 
other differences that I've not mentioned that should be considered?

(At least initially, I'll use it with regular Epson inks, since I'll 
need to print lots of color as well as some black and white.)

===>	Are you interested in an Epson 3000?  Contact me.
	I'm in the Portland, Maine, area, and would prefer
	not to ship ... but anything is possible.   <===

Thanks all,

Arthur Fink

	A r t h u r  .  F i n k  .  P h o t o g r a p h y
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