Digital BW, The Print

If you want to print both matte and glossy papers, the Canon is the better  
way to go.
I print with a 6100, which is the same machine as the 5100 only in 24", for 
 which there are excellent profiles available from Lou Dina on the Wiki 
Canon  site. I also have 2 4800s (MK & PK) and a 4880 (PK) for reference. 
With the Epsons, you will need 2 machines, one for matte, one for gloss.  
The 5100 prints interchangeably, MK and PK inks with 2 grays, just like the  
4800.
The quality comparison between the Canon and the Epson is about equal,  
although the Epson 2880 3.5pl dither is slightly superior and the dot is  
tighter.... not that you will see the difference in an image, without a loupe. 
The Canon Plug-in is great, allows toning of your B/W in PhotoShop before  
sending the image to the plug in, and produces really excellent B/W as well 
as  color prints. Each brand, of course, has it's strengths and weaknesses. 
The ABW  driver on the Epson is also excellent, with careful editing in 
Photoshop. 
The Canon is faster, the Epson inks are cheaper, particularly if you use  
3rd party equivalents like I do. There are no alternatives at present for  
Canon's factory 130ml ink carts @ $75. For me, the Epsons are less expensive 
to  run, because of the difference in ink costs, which helps let me afford 
the  Harman and Silver Rag papers I like. Gold Fiber is excellent on both 
printers as  well. I print on Arches Infinity, Han Photo Rag, Portfolio Rag, Han 
Wm Turner,  BC canvas, Epson canvas and Inkpress Baryta, among others, on 
both the Epsons  and the Canon machines, which produce equally saleable and 
attractive  prints.
I should add that for the best B/W, you can't match the Piezo K7 (matte  
papers) quality with either machine. I print Special Edition K7 on an Epson 
7600  and there IS a difference in print quality.
 
HTH
Rich
Visit my website at:
 
_www.rmassiephotography.com_ (http://www.rmassiephotography.com) 
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