Digital BW, The Print

Whew, reading these posts the last fews days has my brain near to a 
full meltdown. I'm just getting myself oriented to start printing in 
this medium and need a few words of clarification and advice. From my 
research into inkjet printing for B&W prints, I've decided to start 
with the BO option that Clayton has written about at great length and 
detail. Once I have that working I may want to try multi-ink systems 
but that'll be months down the line.

So, I now have a refurbished (by Epson) 2200 and a sealed pack of 
Epson UC inks. I'll be purchasing the MIS Eboni black ink to replace 
the PK ink. So far, so good. Now the paper. EEM seems to be a highly 
regarded paper for workprints with more or less neutral tonality and 
it's inexpensive. I understand it's not archival due to its acidity. 
But I'm wondering what other papers might be recommended that offer 
neutral to slightly warm tonality, archival characteristics, work 
with Eboni, and are not exhorbitantly priced. 

A few questions:

a) What sort of print quality results from using the supplied Epson 
UC/PK ink on matte papers? (I don't have any interest in glossy 
prints, although semi-gloss is fine.)

b) If I have the Epson UC inks loaded in the printer, does it have to 
run through a complete purge/cleaning cycle if just the black ink is 
switched out? Can the black be purged by itself?

c) If Eboni is installed with the UC inks, can I print a color image 
without the PK ink? On matte paper? Or does Eboni with color not work?

d) And how about a few paper recommendations beyond EEM, papers that 
are neutral to slightly warm, have minimal flaking, are possibly 
double sided, and have good archival characteristics? Oh, and don't 
cost and arm and a leg...

In a month or two I'll probably be amused at myself for asking these 
elementary questions, but some basic assistance on the front end of 
this venture may save many hours of experimentation. Thanks in 
advance.

Michael

Hello Michael,

>EEM seems to be a highly regarded paper for workprints with more or 
>less neutral tonality...

EEM is not neutral (meaning black is black, not brown).  Eboni on EEM
will make a moderately warm print.

>...and it's inexpensive. I understand it's not archival due to its 
>acidity.  But I'm wondering what other papers might be recommended 
>that offer neutral to slightly warm tonality, archival
>characteristics, work with Eboni, and are not exhorbitantly priced.

Kayenta by Moab is less expensive, archival, 2-sided, and looks great
with Eboni BO.  It is the closest to a truly neutral print tone
(neutral meaning black is black, not brown).  It is a bright white
paper (please see article #5 about papers at the link below for more
details).


>a) What sort of print quality results from using the supplied Epson 
>UC/PK ink on matte papers? 

The PK on matte paper will have very poor dmax and considerably warmer
than Eboni.  PK is meant for glossy papers.  MK is for matte papers.


>b) If I have the Epson UC inks loaded in the printer, does it have to 
>run through a complete purge/cleaning cycle if just the black ink is 
>switched out? 

Yes.  Swap any cart and it will run a cleaning cycle.

Can the black be purged by itself?

No.

 
>c) If Eboni is installed with the UC inks, can I print a color image 
>without the PK ink? On matte paper? Or does Eboni with color not >work?

Eboni will make good color prints on matte paper, not glossy paper. 
Eboni is a substitute for the MK.  It will not work on glossy paper
(rubs off).

 
>d) And how about a few paper recommendations beyond EEM, papers that 
> are neutral to slightly warm, have minimal flaking, are possibly 
> double sided, and have good archival characteristics? Oh, and don't 
> cost and arm and a leg...

Try Kayenta by Moab, as described above.  Also Condor BW by Hawk Mtn
(please see article #5)

Have fun!


Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm