Digital BW, The Print

Bob,

> While experimenting with various mixtures for a new UT-R18, I've had
> my 1280 (which I wrote off due to a clogged head) sitting with
> cleaning carts installed.  I've run a couple of pages of purge
> patterns every night for about two weeks and the heads are now
> unclogged and giving a perfect nozzle test pattern again.  It's made
> me think back as to which printer required less maintenance: the 
1800
> or 1280 with pigment inks.  My memory says there was not much
> difference maintenance-wise,

You were one of the lucky ones with the 1280.  There was a much 
higher rate of problems with that printer than I've heard with the 
1800 in general.

...
> I'm assuming the 1280 would require LK inks for smooth midtones
> because of the dot size, and, if I remember, Eboni diluted 
> tends to go rather warm.  Is this correct? 

Yes, but not as warm as MIS PK or LK, and the paper makes a 
difference.


> Am I crazy to consider using the 1280 as my B&W printer and leaving
> the 1800 for color?  

If you don't need glossy and are OK with the 1800's 3-MK smoothness, 
the most reliable system would be the 1800 with color and 3-MK.  You 
can print sepia by toning the MK with R and Y, using QTR. If you need 
warmer, put an LK (or PK) into one of the slots -- you'd get smoother 
as a side benefit.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com