Digital BW, The Print

Hello Again,

Last fall, after just over six years of faithful service, my R2400 died. It was replaced with an R3000 and it's been fantastic.  As I'm sure most of you know, it uses the newer K3 inks with vivid magenta. 

Besides the larger ink carts (which is nice), the biggest difference is the tones don't change as the ink levels get lower (my theory was it was caused by changing ink pressure as the carts emptied, but whatever the cause, it seems to be fixed in the R3000).  I use to have to compare a new test print with a master copy so I could adjust the tone control to ensure a matching tone, and it was difficult to get an exact match.  That's no longer necessary.  The tones have been consistent so far during 10+ months of use.  

The tones look nicer as well.  It used to be difficult to get a desired tone without a greenish or pinkish hint creeping in.  It was always a delicate dance on the green-magenta axis.  With the Epson Cold/Hot Press Natural papers, an ABW setting of 0,0 results in a true neutral tone (meaning a cold tone look without having a hint of color, where the blacks look black) that had been nearly impossible with the R2400.

I can't detect any difference in the quality (meaning detail resolution or tone smoothness) of R3000 prints compared to R2400 versions.  If there is a difference it's very subtle, at least on matte paper.  

The top paper feed is the best I've ever experienced.  I no longer have to carefully coax a paper into it with subtle pressure.  The front load mechanism (for heavy papers), however, is the pits.  It is, for all practical purposes, useless.  If it accepts the paper at all, which is rare, it will be crooked.  But it's moot for me as all the papers I use feed perfectly in the top feeder.

My only complaint is that when I select Epson Hot or Cold Press Natural papers in the paper list (or other thick fine art papers), the software does not permit loading those in the top feeder, only the front feeder which is terrible.  I have found, however, that selecting Ultra Premium Presentation Matte, which is allowed in the top feeder, produces prints indistinguishable from those produced from the above selection.  I don't know why Epson does that.  I've had zero problems with these papers (including VFA and several other thick papers) in the top feeder.

So all in all the R3000 is far more satisfactory than the R2400.  I have no experience with the R2880 so I can't comment on that.

*** Paper
When the Epson Hot/Cold Press Natural papers came out I switched over to them.  Finally a non-OBA paper with dmax equal to VFA (Epson Velvet Fine Art - for a long time this had the best dmax with K3 inks).  These new papers are stunningly good with these inks.  I'm slowly finishing up my stock of VFA and I doubt I'll get any more when it's gone.  The new papers are terrific.

Long-time forum members know that I'm a proponent of the "low-tech" approach to BW printing.  This has been described in a series of articles on the web site link below.  I'm happy to report that I can continue working this way with the R3000.  I'm very pleased with it.

Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
I-Trak 3.0   http://www.cjcom.net/itrak.htm

Clayton,

Thank you for the update!  It's good to hear what you're up to.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I had absolute fits with roll paper and canvas.  Even trying to cut some 
roll and front feed, the front feeder pulled the same garbage on me.

BTW, Clayton, right after I bought mine I did printouts for Hawk 
Mountain with the Epson inks, then switched to MIS and did another set.  
The ICCs are available at Hawk Mountain for Condor BW and Merlin Photo.

The down side:
The thing I absolutely HATE is the loss of the manual load button. I 
prefer to start some of the heavier papers in the top feed myself and 
make sure they load straight.
The other thing they took away (and Epson tech support blows off) is the 
loss of the AUTO nozzle check and alignment functions.  A step backwards.

Adding an external waste tank is easier, with NO cutting or mods.
That said, watch what happens when you switch from MK to PK and back.  
The ink purge is NOT in the same place as the cleaning cycle; it is on 
the left side instead.  I don't think that uses tubes either, so a 
change of pads will be needed.

Seth

Seth,

> Adding an external waste tank is easier, with NO cutting or mods.

That's good to know.  Can you point me to a web site that shows how to do it?


>That said, watch what happens when you switch from MK to PK and back. 
>The ink purge is NOT in the same place as the cleaning cycle; it is >on the left side instead.  I don't think that uses tubes either, so a 
>change of pads will be needed.

I don't use PK so it shouldn't be a problem.


Thanks for the tips.


Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
I-Trak 3.0   http://www.cjcom.net/itrak.htm

I'll PM you.

Just for the public though, the MIS CFS tubing is the exact fit. AND, it 
slips through the back louvers without filing or cutting.

Seth