Digital BW, The Print

Hi,

I'm new to this group and have been reading the postings for about 10 days.  
I am most impressed with the knowledge and depth of information but find most 
of it beyond my present abilities.  I have been shooting digitally for about 
3 years, but all in color.  I use a Canon S800 printer (and like the 
results.)  I have also dabbled in duotones for some black/white.

It seems that most everyone on this forum is Epson based and I assume that 
means that I need to bite that bullet for a dedicated b/w printer...although 
I would prefer not wrestling with 2 different manufacturers.  Any other ideas 
about how I might use a second S800 for dedicated black and white?

Finally, is there a set of tutorials or a website that would give me a good 
grounding in b/w printing basics?

Thanks for any advice.

Fred Rothenberg
fred@...

Fred-

I think everyone here would encourage you to dedicate one printer for 
BW and one for color. Even on the basis of cost, this makes sense. 
You would have to flush the ink each time you changed it and flush 
cartridges and wasted ink would quickly cost more than the second 
printer.

Again, almost everyone here uses Epson printers for a few reasons. 
The most important is there are many choices of inksets, software, 
and profiled papers from third party manufacturers and developers 
that just don't exist for HP or Canon today...and we are all quite 
happy with the Epson quality (though I have heard that the Canon 
color is quite good).

Finally...there are dozens of websites with bits and pieces...search 
the archives here and you will find a lot...bottom line, however, is 
the best way to learn is to just jump in...try something and come 
back here (or talk with the vendor for advice) for course correction 
or ideas to try.

There are a few basic choices you have to make when you start...which 
printer, which inks and papers, which "system" (the two main ones 
here are either to spend the money for Piezography ((see 
www.inkjetmall.com and look at BW)) or MIS inks and use one of the 
published workflows (see the www.inksupply.com) for them. A third 
choice seems to be the Lyson inks (only available in cartridge 
format); these are available from www.inkjetart.com (who are also 
EXCELLENT at giving you personal advice and help getting started.

It's not as hard as it sounds...just get going and you will be amazed 
at how much fun BW is and how much help there is here and from the 
good vendors to make it work for you.

Good luck

Tom O'Connell

TomOC@...
www.thomasoconnell.com 


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., fred@f... wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I'm new to this group and have been reading the postings for about 
10 days.  
> I am most impressed with the knowledge and depth of information but 
find most 
> of it beyond my present abilities.  I have been shooting digitally 
for about 
> 3 years, but all in color.  I use a Canon S800 printer (and like 
the 
> results.)  I have also dabbled in duotones for some black/white.
> 
> It seems that most everyone on this forum is Epson based and I 
assume that 
> means that I need to bite that bullet for a dedicated b/w 
printer...although 
> I would prefer not wrestling with 2 different manufacturers.  Any 
other ideas 
> about how I might use a second S800 for dedicated black and white?
> 
> Finally, is there a set of tutorials or a website that would give 
me a good 

> grounding in b/w printing basics?
> 
> Thanks for any advice.
> 
> Fred Rothenberg
> fred@f...