Digital BW, The Print

Andre,

> My Epson 1400 just arrived and refillable carts are on the way. 
> Now I need to choose an inkset. Carbon pigment or color pigment? 


Because the 1400 appears to make a very nice Eboni Black Only 
printer, it should be possible to have color inks with Eboni as the 
black.  For my every-day, general printer I have a 260 set up that 
way -- Eboni in K and MIS K4 color pigs in the color positions.  The 
color is quite different than the Claria, but a good profiler should 
be able to handle it.  (I made a curve/layer that does the job.)



> Questions: 
> -There are eight inks in the Eboni-6 inkset.

There are 6 inks, including the 100% Eboni.   The k2 and k3 machines 
use M and LM for the LK and LLK spots.  (They are the same density.)


> -Can glossy paper be used at this time or has this option not
> available yet?

No.  You could put a PKN in the K cart.  The 260 RC PKN or PKC would 
be candidates.


> - When doing BO, with QTR I presume, can one print full size 
> (A3+) and still get potentially good printing? 

Yes, but we've noticed some microbanding of images within 1 inch of 
the top and bottom borders.



> 2- Color printing: Would the K4 inkset be indicated 
> for both color and b&w printing on the Epson 1400. 

Yes.  The K4 (or MIS Pro) colors should work in the 1400.  They do in 
my 260.  



> Again, which of the eight inks in the K4 inkset could I use on a
> printer like the 1400? 

The color and Eboni, but there is no LK or LLK in a hextone color 
setup.

I'd use the 260 RC PKC (in a 1400 cart) for glossy black only.

 
> Matte or glossy or both with this inkset.

The midtones are good for matte or glossy.  You'll have to change 
black inks to switch between glossy and matte papers.

> Pros and con with this inket.

The colors were outside what my low sample number color profiler 
could handle well.  My curves layer will probably work better.

By the way, it's not out yet, but by the end of the week the MIS UT14 
might be available.  It'll be a B&W inkset that is glossy and matte 
compatible wihtout changing inks.  It's a bit premature -- don't 
bother MIS yet with orders -- but see http://www.paulroark.com/BW-
Info/UT14.pdf 

Hope this helps.

Paul   
www.PaulRoark.com