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1 more question from a future convert

1 more question from a future convert

2003-10-17 by Eric Maquiling

Hi,

Just one more question.  So it looks like if I get Piezo inks, I will
need to get some software, which costs money.  But what are my other
ink options?  I've heard of MIS, UT (what is UT anyway?) I've been to
inksupply.com and injetmall.com and confused by the types/amounts out
there.  Can I do basic B&W with whatever Epson comes in with?  Just to
get used to it?  Or basic B&W that is sort of sepia toned in PS?

Can I get some recommendations for something type of ink?  I don't
mind cold tone but I was at Piezo and liked the Selenium.  I used to
selenium tone on real paper.  Do other ink companies offer that?  

TIA!

-- 
Eric
Eric's PAW page:  <http://www.maquiling.org/paw>
PAW main page:  <http://www.jeffery-nola.com/links.html>

RE: [Digital BW] 1 more question from a future convert

2003-10-17 by Paul Roark

Eric,

>...  So it looks like if I get Piezo inks, I will
>need to get some software, which costs money.  But what are my other
>ink options?

With the MIS variable-mix/tone options all that is needed is Photoshop -- no
extra software.  Also, compare ink prices.  Bulk MIS ink is very cheap.

> I've heard of MIS, UT (what is UT anyway?)

"UT" is MIS "Ultra Tone B&W."  It's the newest, state-of-the-art
variable-tone inkset.

With a variable-tone/mix inkset, you can print at various tones without
having to change the inkset.  These inksets are basically raw carbon pigment
(warm) quads that have a light, low-gamut cool toner in one ink position.
The tone is determined by how much toner is put into the mix.  Control is
via Photoshop image adjustment curves.

There are pre-made & free curves available for a number of printers.  See
the MIS chart that lists the printers that are supported.  I currently use
the 1280 with UT inks and have the most and best curves for that printer
family (the 1290 and 1270 are can run the 1280 driver, at least with PCs &
there are letter-size versions of these printers).

> ... Can I do basic B&W with whatever Epson comes in with?

If you want good B&W, get a printer that is supported by the quadtone
inksets.  The color inkset all end up with cross-overs and tint that are not
pleasing.

>... I was at Piezo and liked the Selenium.  ...
>  Do other ink companies offer that?

The UT neutral curve gives a "selenium" tone.  This tone is neutral with a
magenta bias.  I mixed it to match my lightly selenium-toned silver prints.

All this is a bit overwhelming for someone who is just starting to look at
B&W inkjet printing.  Because of this, I'm now tuning a cheap Epson C82 to
print with no "workflow" (special software or procedure).  This will allow
people to get away from the expensive Photoshop.  Right now my target is
people re-producing old photos (genealogists and scrapbookers).  It might be
that others will want a super-cheap entry printer to see what they are
getting into, however.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com

Re: [Digital BW] 1 more question from a future convert

2003-10-17 by kenschuster

Eric - Another option is Septones. With an Epson 2200, you can swap
out/in the Ultrachromes with the Septones. I just did it (back and
forth twice), and it worked without a hitch. 

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Re: [Digital BW] 1 more question from a future convert

2003-10-17 by Eric Maquiling

On 10/17 08:11, Paul Roark wrote:
> 
> With the MIS variable-mix/tone options all that is needed is Photoshop -- no
> extra software.  Also, compare ink prices.  Bulk MIS ink is very cheap.

Awesome information. 
> 
> "UT" is MIS "Ultra Tone B&W."  It's the newest, state-of-the-art
> variable-tone inkset.

Ahhh, now I get it.  I'm such a newbie!

> the MIS chart that lists the printers that are supported.  I currently use
> the 1280 with UT inks and have the most and best curves for that printer


I figure the 1280 is so well used and many people use it, I would like
that as well.  

> B&W inkjet printing.  Because of this, I'm now tuning a cheap Epson C82 to
> print with no "workflow" (special software or procedure).  This will allow

I emailed the folks at www.inksupply.com regarding my Epson Photo 825.
I can use the 860 inkset and stuff (Quadtones) but I would like to
retain the printer for family 4x6 color stuff.

Thanks again for bearing with "newbie" questions.

-- 
Eric
Eric's PAW page:  <http://www.maquiling.org/paw>
PAW main page:  <http://www.jeffery-nola.com/links.html>

Re: [Digital BW] 1 more question from a future convert

2003-10-17 by Jeff Randall

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Eric Maquiling 
<eric@m...> wrote:
> I emailed the folks at www.inksupply.com regarding my Epson Photo 
825.

If past experience is a guide, I'd suggest a phone call.  Email 
response is not an MIS hallmark.

Jeff Randall

Re: [Digital BW] 1 more question from a future convert

2003-10-17 by Eric Maquiling

On 10/17 20:36, Jeff Randall wrote:
> 
> If past experience is a guide, I'd suggest a phone call.  Email 
> response is not an MIS hallmark.

I'll remember that!
-- 
Eric
Eric's PAW page:  <http://www.maquiling.org/paw>
PAW main page:  <http://www.jeffery-nola.com/links.html>

RE: [Digital BW] 1 more question from a future convert

2003-10-17 by Ken Carney

Eric, to get started you might try the Epson color inkset that comes with
the 1280 (actually, you have a very good outfit to start with).  There is a
good Photoshop plug-in named Photokit that, among other things, lets you
select the image tone you want...cold tones, sepia, etc.
www.pixelgenius.com.  I'm switching to the Imageprint RIP for printing, but
it's $500 per year and not _that_ much better than Photokit ($50), for a
starting setup.  I tried the MIS quad inks and their CIS (excellent company,
they do what they say), but for me the dedicated b&w inks are too limiting.
In the wet darkroom I toned prints a lot, combinations like gold 231 and
selenium or thiocarbomide, split-toning, etc. and I missed that capability
with the dedicated b&w inks.

In the wet darkroom I mainly printed (you'll note the past tense) Portriga
or Oriental papers toned in selenium for "straight" prints.  Photokit does
have a selenium toner, but in my humble opinion we will not get very close
to the toned fiber paper look.  So far as I know, the only "photo-like"
papers available for inkjet are RC papers, which are seldom if ever used in
exhibition printing.  I'm OK with the cold tone options in Photokit.  You
can try it for free with the Epson color inks and see if it floats your
boat.

    Regards,

  --Ken Carney
    www.kencarney.com
Show quoted textHide quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Maquiling [mailto:eric@...]
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 9:33 AM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
Subject: [Digital BW] 1 more question from a future convert


Hi,

Just one more question.  So it looks like if I get Piezo inks, I will
need to get some software, which costs money.  But what are my other
ink options?  I've heard of MIS, UT (what is UT anyway?) I've been to
inksupply.com and injetmall.com and confused by the types/amounts out
there.  Can I do basic B&W with whatever Epson comes in with?  Just to
get used to it?  Or basic B&W that is sort of sepia toned in PS?

Can I get some recommendations for something type of ink?  I don't
mind cold tone but I was at Piezo and liked the Selenium.  I used to
selenium tone on real paper.  Do other ink companies offer that?

TIA!

--
Eric
Eric's PAW page:  <http://www.maquiling.org/paw>
PAW main page:  <http://www.jeffery-nola.com/links.html>


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Re: [Digital BW] 1 more question from a future convert

2003-10-17 by Eric Maquiling

On 10/17 18:28, Ken Carney wrote:
> 
> In the wet darkroom I mainly printed (you'll note the past tense) Portriga
> or Oriental papers toned in selenium for "straight" prints.  Photokit does

Sounds like my MO.  Oriental and Portriga are my 2 favorites.  I'll go
back to the dark, really I will :)

Thanks for all the advice!

-- 
Eric
Eric's PAW page:  <http://www.maquiling.org/paw>
PAW main page:  <http://www.jeffery-nola.com/links.html>

Re: [Digital BW] 1 more question from a future convert

2003-10-17 by Eric Maquiling

On 10/17 18:48, Ken Carney wrote:
> 
> >From the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers: "No, join us...there will
> be no more pain..."

That's what I'm afraid of.  Once you go
digitalblackandwhitetheprint....you nevah go back
-- 
Eric
Eric's PAW page:  <http://www.maquiling.org/paw>
PAW main page:  <http://www.jeffery-nola.com/links.html>

Re: [Digital BW] 1 more question from a future convert

2003-10-18 by Johnny Eades

Hello Eric,

I have been where you are right now a year ago and have tried many 
avenues to achieve BW prints that do not have any color tints to 
them, and I finally went to Quadtone printing with inks from MIS inks 
and really got pretty good at it. I got some very good advice and 
hints and ideas from the folks on this newsgroup. Today I am using 
the software from PiezographyBW and the inkset from MIS inks called 
Full spectrum Neutral that uses the Epson driver. I got the inks 
today and have not had time to really work with them, and won't till 
the middle of next week some time. I'll update folks on the list when 
I do get to it.

Your friend in Photography,

Johnny Eades




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Eric Maquiling 
<eric@m...> wrote:
> On 10/17 18:28, Ken Carney wrote:
> > 
> > In the wet darkroom I mainly printed (you'll note the past tense) 
Portriga
> > or Oriental papers toned in selenium for "straight" prints.  
Photokit does
> 
> Sounds like my MO.  Oriental and Portriga are my 2 favorites.  I'll 
go
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> back to the dark, really I will :)
> 
> Thanks for all the advice!
> 
> -- 
> Eric
> Eric's PAW page:  <http://www.maquiling.org/paw>
> PAW main page:  <http://www.jeffery-nola.com/links.html>

Best archival ink to start with a 1200?

2003-10-18 by Richard Smallfield

I have just been offered a second-hand Epson 1200 as a gift.

From what I've read, VM is not as archival as FS etc, although MIS claims that the VM inkset is as archival as the original Quadtones. 

I understand that they can supply the FS inks in cartridges containing two extra tones for those without the Cone driver. The Ultra-Tones do not come in cartridges for the 1200, but only the 1270(etc). (I have read that the best way to start is with cartridges, so that I don't get locked into using one ink.)

Can anyone suggest what would be the best way to start out with arcival grey-scale ink for the 1200 would be? I'm a bit mind-boggled at present.

thanks for your help in advance,
Richard

Sorry if I am unable to reply promptly to emails. 
-------------------
http://smallfield.vze.com/
http://photos.smallfield.vze.com/    ... or ...
http://www.homepages.paradise.net.nz/rich_s/
http://www.homepages.paradise.net.nz/rich_s/photos/

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