Digital BW, The Print

Hi Phil,

 

Your three factors don't rule out any of  the machines you are considering.
They do limit you to a workflow using color inks.  I have printed
intensively with the ifp5100 and then let it sit for a while without issue;
the printer performs automatic head cleaning, etc. and just works.

 

Your comments about print quality are right on.  Until you know the workflow
used and the print driver settings used, you can't make an accurate
assessment of what your color shifting issues are like.  The underlying
issue is whether or not color ink is being mixed in with black/grey ink when
a print is made.  Each manufacturer has its own "magic" in how they blend
color with black/grey inks for B&W printing using their print drivers.

 

Canon technical support has told me that the standard Canon Driver does not
use color ink for B&W prints when the monochrome option is selected unless
you start to move the "image tone" sliders off of neutral.   I am not sure
if this is true or not.

 

I found the TrueBW RIP for the Canon Printer to be a much better solution
for Black & White Printing.  It gives me much more control and
predictability in how the prints come out.  This RIP is only available for
the Mac.

 

Given your factors, the best B&W printing choice in my opinion would be use
QTR with a black-only profile on an Epson 3800/4800, TrueBW with a Canon ipf
series machine, or some other black-only software solution with the HP
machine.  Any of these would give you color prints with the "standard"
driver and maximum control over B&W printing.

 

Best Regards,

George

 

From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of philh20
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 11:11 AM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Canon IPF 5100 vs Epson 3800 vs Epson 4800

 






Very helpful thread for me as I, too, am looking for a new printer in the
17-24" range. Three additional factors, though: 1) I'll be printing color as
well as BW images on the same machine; 2) I tend to print furiously then lie
fallow for a couple weeks; 3) my printing environment is typically of very
low humidity (8,000 ft. elevation). 

From what I've read I'm leaning toward the Canon over the HP Z3200. Price is
certainly one reason. But when looking at test prints from these two along
with an Epson I gotta say the BW with the 5100 remains most neutral in
changing light. A grain of salt the size of a bowling ball needs to be
included, though, as I cannot be certain that the folks providing the test
prints in each case and location did their best to optimize my gratis
prints. 

Additional thoughts? 

Thanks, Phil





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