Digital BW, The Print

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> Whatever ink we use I think paper is the major expense -

True.  I've noticed at least with Premier Art that their thinner 
paper (e.g., 200 gsm) is often just as good in image quality while 
being considerably cheaper.  The 205 Scrapbook is actually said to be 
the most archival by Epson.

> I'll never go back to MIS as I have enough trouble keeping 
>  OEM ink flowing, let alone third party ink.

I wish we had a good, objective way to measure this quality.  I think 
the matte paper only MIS Eboni-6 and home brew Carbon-6 are much less 
likely to clog than the glossy MIS inks, but I have no way to 
objectively compare to either other MIS inks or OEM inks.

My gut feeling is that the binder used in the inks is a major 
variable, and that glossy ink take more of it.  Glop is, after all, 
just the binder in the MIS ink scheme of things.  While I have 
assumed the Epson coated pigment approach is better for glossy 
prints, those pigs also have to stick to the paper.


> It it true to say that ink flow problems tend to get worse 
> as printers get older?

The 1280 appears to have had a noticeably higher problem rate that 
all those subsequent to that model.  In fact, the 2000P I had for a 
while seemed fine (2 1280s crashed on me).  I've thought maybe what 
happened is that Epson, when they went to pigments, found that a 
different type of internal filter or screen worked better with 
pigments.  Then they just used that new material or screening in all 
their heads subsequent to the 2000P.  But, I'm speculating.

My 2200 is very reliable and has been producing prints for quite a 
while now with very few problems.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com