Digital BW, The Print

I'm just wondering ... if I were to go out and buy the necessary hardware
and software to make nice, black-and-white ink-jet prints on my desktop,
right now, what would be my best choice?  I'd want to be able to go up to A3
or Super A3.  The printer would be connected to my Windows XP machine.  The
printer would not be used for any other purpose.

I assume some sort of Epson printer would be the leading choice.  If so,
which one?  Or which other printer?  What about inks?  What would be the
overall investment, for printer, inks, any required software, and paper?  I
already have Photoshop.

Would I be able to get exhibition-quality B&W prints from this set-up?  I'd
need that level of quality in order to justify investing in a dedicated
printer for this purpose.

I currently have an Epson 2000P, and it prints so-so in black and white
(much nicer in color), but it's clear that I'd need some sort of dedicated
printer to get really nice B&W ink-jet prints, so that I could use whatever
magic inks are required to produce optimal results.

Suggestions or a pointer to a site that answers these questions welcome.

I'm running an Epson 2100/2200 on an XP machine using ColorByte's 
Imageprint RIP (about $500 US).

I'm very, very happy with my black and white prints (finally, after disappointing 
results with the same printer and Epson's driver)....advantage with this setup 
is that it uses the standard Epson inkset, so I don't need a dedicated black 
and white printer.

Top black and white print of the month at my local camera club this month...

Luke.




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Anthony Atkielski" <
anthony@a...> wrote:
> I'm just wondering ... if I were to go out and buy the necessary hardware
> and software to make nice, black-and-white ink-jet prints on my desktop,
> right now, what would be my best choice?  I'd want to be able to go up to A3
> or Super A3.  The printer would be connected to my Windows XP machine.  
The

> printer would not be used for any other purpose.
> 
> I assume some sort of Epson printer would be the leading choice.  If so,
> which one?  Or which other printer?  What about inks?  What would be the
> overall investment, for printer, inks, any required software, and paper?  I
> already have Photoshop.
> 
> Would I be able to get exhibition-quality B&W prints from this set-up?  I'd
> need that level of quality in order to justify investing in a dedicated
> printer for this purpose.
> 
> I currently have an Epson 2000P, and it prints so-so in black and white
> (much nicer in color), but it's clear that I'd need some sort of dedicated
> printer to get really nice B&W ink-jet prints, so that I could use whatever
> magic inks are required to produce optimal results.
> 
> Suggestions or a pointer to a site that answers these questions welcome.

Luke:

I ordered the 2200 earlier this week.  What are the advantages to RIP 
software and what RIP software should be considered?  Is it best to 
have a dedicated box for the RIP?

Thanks,
Duncan

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Luke" 
<akaluke@h...> wrote:
> I'm running an Epson 2100/2200 on an XP machine using ColorByte's 
> Imageprint RIP (about $500 US).
> 
> I'm very, very happy with my black and white prints (finally, after 
disappointing 
> results with the same printer and Epson's driver)....advantage with 
this setup 
> is that it uses the standard Epson inkset, so I don't need a 
dedicated black 
> and white printer.
> 
> Top black and white print of the month at my local camera club this 
month...
> 
> Luke.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Anthony 
Atkielski" <
> anthony@a...> wrote:
> > I'm just wondering ... if I were to go out and buy the necessary 
hardware
> > and software to make nice, black-and-white ink-jet prints on my 
desktop,
> > right now, what would be my best choice?  I'd want to be able to 
go up to A3
> > or Super A3.  The printer would be connected to my Windows XP 
machine.  
> The
> > printer would not be used for any other purpose.
> > 
> > I assume some sort of Epson printer would be the leading choice.  
If so,
> > which one?  Or which other printer?  What about inks?  What would 
be the
> > overall investment, for printer, inks, any required software, and 
paper?  I
> > already have Photoshop.
> > 
> > Would I be able to get exhibition-quality B&W prints from this 
set-up?  I'd
> > need that level of quality in order to justify investing in a 
dedicated
> > printer for this purpose.
> > 
> > I currently have an Epson 2000P, and it prints so-so in black and 
white
> > (much nicer in color), but it's clear that I'd need some sort of 
dedicated
> > printer to get really nice B&W ink-jet prints, so that I could 
use whatever
> > magic inks are required to produce optimal results.
> > 
> > Suggestions or a pointer to a site that answers these questions 
welcome.

I am also looking for a good b/w solution and have my hopes up for Jon Cones new 
b/w ICC ink set due in June. My 2000P just sits there looking for somthing to do, my 
2200 works great in the color world. So I am betting on Jon's solution, it also sounds 
cheaper than his last b/w ink sets.

franklin


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Duncan Staples" 
<gdstaples@y...> wrote:

> Luke:
> 
> I ordered the 2200 earlier this week.  What are the advantages to RIP 
> software and what RIP software should be considered?  Is it best to 
> have a dedicated box for the RIP?
> 
> Thanks,
> Duncan
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Luke" 
> <akaluke@h...> wrote:
> > I'm running an Epson 2100/2200 on an XP machine using ColorByte's 
> > Imageprint RIP (about $500 US).
> > 
> > I'm very, very happy with my black and white prints (finally, after 
> disappointing 
> > results with the same printer and Epson's driver)....advantage with 
> this setup 
> > is that it uses the standard Epson inkset, so I don't need a 
> dedicated black 
> > and white printer.
> > 
> > Top black and white print of the month at my local camera club this 
> month...
> > 
> > Luke.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Anthony 
> Atkielski" <
> > anthony@a...> wrote:
> > > I'm just wondering ... if I were to go out and buy the necessary 
> hardware
> > > and software to make nice, black-and-white ink-jet prints on my 
> desktop,
> > > right now, what would be my best choice?  I'd want to be able to 
> go up to A3
> > > or Super A3.  The printer would be connected to my Windows XP 
> machine.  
> > The
> > > printer would not be used for any other purpose.
> > > 
> > > I assume some sort of Epson printer would be the leading choice.  
> If so,
> > > which one?  Or which other printer?  What about inks?  What would 
> be the
> > > overall investment, for printer, inks, any required software, and 
> paper?  I
> > > already have Photoshop.
> > > 
> > > Would I be able to get exhibition-quality B&W prints from this 
> set-up?  I'd
> > > need that level of quality in order to justify investing in a 
> dedicated
> > > printer for this purpose.
> > > 
> > > I currently have an Epson 2000P, and it prints so-so in black and 
> white
> > > (much nicer in color), but it's clear that I'd need some sort of 
> dedicated
> > > printer to get really nice B&W ink-jet prints, so that I could 
> use whatever
> > > magic inks are required to produce optimal results.
> > > 
> > > Suggestions or a pointer to a site that answers these questions 
> welcome.

Duncan

I'm hardly an expert but I'll try to throw in my opinions...

I run the RIP software on the same XP machine as I do everything else 
(scanning,photoshop, etc).

I can't really talk about other RIPS because I have no experience with them. 
Perhaps other will chime in. 

The advantages of the Colorbyte ImagePrint RIP and with the 2200, as far as I 
know are (and I concentrate mainly on black and white):

1. Fantastic profiles for just about every paper and ink combo imaginable. The 
profiles in my experience are very  good. Saves getting custom profiles for all 
your paper ink combinations. Even with custom profiles, I suspect that the 
Epson driver is still going to struggle against the RIP.

2. A better printer driver than the Epson one.  When printing black and white, 
the RIP doesn't use the yellow ink, so metamerism is pretty much eliminated 
as far as I'm concerned. Also, the Epson driver can't produce consistantly 
neutral black and white. There'll be some crossover in some shades of grey 
and you'll end up with magenta or green parts of the image (drove me insane 
for months).

Remember though, that these are just my opinions, with my printer and my 
workflow. Your mileage may vary, but I'm ecstatic with the output I'm 
producing now.

Maybe try to get your hands on the ImagePrint demo. Check out the 
ImagePrint Yahoo group.

Good luck
Luke.




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Duncan Staples" <
gdstaples@y...> wrote:

> Luke:
> 
> I ordered the 2200 earlier this week.  What are the advantages to RIP 
> software and what RIP software should be considered?  Is it best to 
> have a dedicated box for the RIP?
> 
> Thanks,
> Duncan
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Luke" 
> <akaluke@h...> wrote:
> > I'm running an Epson 2100/2200 on an XP machine using ColorByte's 
> > Imageprint RIP (about $500 US).
> > 
> > I'm very, very happy with my black and white prints (finally, after 
> disappointing 
> > results with the same printer and Epson's driver)....advantage with 
> this setup 
> > is that it uses the standard Epson inkset, so I don't need a 
> dedicated black 
> > and white printer.
> > 
> > Top black and white print of the month at my local camera club this 
> month...
> > 
> > Luke.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Anthony 
> Atkielski" <
> > anthony@a...> wrote:
> > > I'm just wondering ... if I were to go out and buy the necessary 
> hardware
> > > and software to make nice, black-and-white ink-jet prints on my 
> desktop,
> > > right now, what would be my best choice?  I'd want to be able to 
> go up to A3
> > > or Super A3.  The printer would be connected to my Windows XP 
> machine.  
> > The
> > > printer would not be used for any other purpose.
> > > 
> > > I assume some sort of Epson printer would be the leading choice.  
> If so,
> > > which one?  Or which other printer?  What about inks?  What would 
> be the
> > > overall investment, for printer, inks, any required software, and 
> paper?  I
> > > already have Photoshop.
> > > 
> > > Would I be able to get exhibition-quality B&W prints from this 
> set-up?  I'd
> > > need that level of quality in order to justify investing in a 
> dedicated
> > > printer for this purpose.
> > > 
> > > I currently have an Epson 2000P, and it prints so-so in black and 
> white
> > > (much nicer in color), but it's clear that I'd need some sort of 
> dedicated
> > > printer to get really nice B&W ink-jet prints, so that I could 
> use whatever
> > > magic inks are required to produce optimal results.
> > > 
> > > Suggestions or a pointer to a site that answers these questions 
> welcome.