Digital BW, The Print

I am getting black blobs in the darkest areas again with my C86 and
the EZ inkset on EEM. I'm using eboni black for now since I've been
printing on mat paper. I just got the Roark Paper sampler pack from
inksupply.com and have a photo black cartridge to try out on Crane
Silver Rag but I'd like to get rid of the blobs first. I've gone
through 4 nozzle cleanings-there goes half my ink:( the check nozzle
pattern looks good every other time I clean them but I'm still get the
dreaded blobs.

I could upgrade to an Epson C88 or the local Ritz Camera had an Epson
220 last time I was there (but that requires a new cartridge system).
I could end up spending so much on a printer and supplies that the
traditional darkroom is starting to look good to me again. If I was
sure the Epson 2400 would work for me I could save up for it but I
could equip a really nice wet darkroom with that kind of money and
still have a lot of cash leftover. The Epson 1400 is out so I could
wait and see how that is working for people. The HP9180 has had mixed
reviews from other sources but this group is relatively quiet with
respect to that printer.

Help-I'm snowbound and want to make prints;)

Scott

Scott,

If you have not read the information on the web site below by Clayton 
Jones of this forum you might want to.  He uses a 2400 with 
apparently very good results as have many others who report their 
success with ABW.  I use a 3800 and am impressed with the quality of 
the prints I make with the ABW system.

http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm

Paul

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "scottkathe1" 
<scott.kathe@...> wrote:
>
> I am getting black blobs in the darkest areas again with my C86 and
> the EZ inkset on EEM. I'm using eboni black for now since I've been
> printing on mat paper. I just got the Roark Paper sampler pack from
> inksupply.com and have a photo black cartridge to try out on Crane
> Silver Rag but I'd like to get rid of the blobs first. I've gone
> through 4 nozzle cleanings-there goes half my ink:( the check nozzle
> pattern looks good every other time I clean them but I'm still get 
the
> dreaded blobs.
> 
> I could upgrade to an Epson C88 or the local Ritz Camera had an 
Epson
> 220 last time I was there (but that requires a new cartridge 
system).
> I could end up spending so much on a printer and supplies that the
> traditional darkroom is starting to look good to me again. If I was
> sure the Epson 2400 would work for me I could save up for it but I
> could equip a really nice wet darkroom with that kind of money and
> still have a lot of cash leftover. The Epson 1400 is out so I could
> wait and see how that is working for people. The HP9180 has had 
mixed

> reviews from other sources but this group is relatively quiet with
> respect to that printer.
> 
> Help-I'm snowbound and want to make prints;)
> 
> Scott
>

Thanks Paul,

Thanks for the link-I have checked out Clayton's website and like it a
lot. In fact I forgot to mention that one of my reasons for bringing
up the Epson 220 is its ability to make good BO prints. I like the
warmth and 'grain' of the BO prints from the C86 but I have horizontal
banding when I print that way.

Scott

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "bwinkjet"
<bwinkjet@...> wrote:

>
> Scott,
> 
> If you have not read the information on the web site below by Clayton 
> Jones of this forum you might want to.  He uses a 2400 with 
> apparently very good results as have many others who report their 
> success with ABW.  I use a 3800 and am impressed with the quality of 
> the prints I make with the ABW system.
> 
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
> 
> Paul
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "scottkathe1" 
> <scott.kathe@> wrote:
> >
> > I am getting black blobs in the darkest areas again with my C86 and
> > the EZ inkset on EEM. I'm using eboni black for now since I've been
> > printing on mat paper. I just got the Roark Paper sampler pack from
> > inksupply.com and have a photo black cartridge to try out on Crane
> > Silver Rag but I'd like to get rid of the blobs first. I've gone
> > through 4 nozzle cleanings-there goes half my ink:( the check nozzle
> > pattern looks good every other time I clean them but I'm still get 
> the
> > dreaded blobs.
> > 
> > I could upgrade to an Epson C88 or the local Ritz Camera had an 
> Epson
> > 220 last time I was there (but that requires a new cartridge 
> system).
> > I could end up spending so much on a printer and supplies that the
> > traditional darkroom is starting to look good to me again. If I was
> > sure the Epson 2400 would work for me I could save up for it but I
> > could equip a really nice wet darkroom with that kind of money and
> > still have a lot of cash leftover. The Epson 1400 is out so I could
> > wait and see how that is working for people. The HP9180 has had 
> mixed
> > reviews from other sources but this group is relatively quiet with
> > respect to that printer.
> > 
> > Help-I'm snowbound and want to make prints;)
> > 
> > Scott
> >
>

>I am getting black blobs in the darkest areas again with my 
>C86 and the EZ inkset on EEM. I'm using eboni black ...

>I just got the Roark Paper sampler pack from inksupply.com ...

I'm not even sure what is in that sample pack.  One paper that may be there
is an "Alpha" that was the Innova version of Permajet "Alpha."  The Innova
version is not the same, however, and mottles badly.  Look at my web pages
to see what papers I've used for the various printers.  For the C86, see
http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/C86-EZ-UT-Readme.htm 

> ... the local Ritz Camera had an Epson 220 last time I was there ...

The 220 does better matte printing.  The c88 does better glossy.

> ... I could end up spending so much on a printer and supplies ...

The C88 and 220 carts are the same.  The chips and inks are different.  You
can use the same EZ-yellow position, where I like the warm.  The 220,
however, needs the 2 level C and M positions.

>... the traditional darkroom is starting to look good to me again.

The main reasons to go digital are NOT cost.  Photoshop is the main reason I
prefer digital.  Once digital, however, the cost and ease of inkjet output
makes it the current technology of choice for me.

> If I was sure the Epson 2400 would work for me I could save up for it ...

For B&W, I actually prefer my 2200.

> but I could equip a really nice wet darkroom with that kind of money ...

I wish I'd invested the cost basis of my drawer full of Apo-Rodagons in
Google stock.

>.... The Epson 1400 is out so I could wait and see ...

I expect it to be a super printer, but I'm often disappointed.


>Help-I'm snowbound and want to make prints;)

Grab that 220 if you like matte paper, or a good refurbished 2200.

Good luck.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 
http://home1.gte.net/res0a2zt/photos.html

Hi Paul and everyone else;)

The Alpha I have wouldn't even load in my C86 and I don't think there
is a back feed option (could be on the back of my printer is hard to
get to) I've checked out your C86 Readme. Which papers don't mottle
badly? 

I was planning on picking up a refurbed 2200 from the Epson Store
after I paid off my holiday credit card bill-of course they have
stopped selling them now.

My main issue is digital files. I shoot film and got an Epson 4990 to
scan my 6x6 and 4x5, 135 is out of the question quality-wise. With a
great negative and great scan supposedly I could make an 11x14 print
from the 4x5 and maybe an ok 8x10 from the 6x6. I'm wondering if I
should make 11x14 enlargements and then put them on the 4990 do 4
scans and stitch them together and then do some photoshop magic. Seems
like a lot of work but cheaper than a drum scanner or buying good
quality scans.

Scott

> Grab that 220 if you like matte paper, or a good refurbished 2200.
> 
> Good luck.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com 
> http://home1.gte.net/res0a2zt/photos.html
>

>The Alpha I have wouldn't even load in my C86 ...

The Premier Art Hot Press 325 won't load in my C88 either.  

>... your C86 Readme. Which papers don't mottle badly? 

I'd always start with Photo Rag and see if it prints OK.  Also, use a test
file, not one that may have mottling in the image.  Eliminate as many
variables as possible.  If there is still mottling, try reducing the ink
load by selecting a different media type setting in the driver.

Truth is, I don't consider the C8x printers top notch matte paper printers.
The 220 was the value champ there.  The C88 is a champ with some glossy
papers, and it's the easiest to re-load with the EZ ink system.

>I was planning on picking up a refurbed 2200 ...

They don't last long at Epson.  Check out eBay.

>... got an Epson 4990 to scan my 6x6 and 4x5, 
> 135 is out of the question quality-wise. 

The typical consumer flatbed is as stretch for medium format also.  I used
to enlarge to 8x10 and then scan the internegative (positive, actually).  If
you can find a good used Nikon 8000 for a reasonable price, it'll be well
worth the cost.

For the 8x10 internegs, I used Kodak 7302.  I'm not sure if this can be
purchased in 8x10 sizes any more.  If it can and you want to try it, I have
more information on its use.  I'm still selling 22 x 28 prints that went
through this process, and they still look competitive (at least to most
people).  You can do the math and see the enormous number of pixels one can
achieve.  However, the flatbed contrast, flare and evenness are issues.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 
http://home1.gte.net/res0a2zt/photos.html

Paul, 
 
Would you recommend the C88+ with MIS ink or the R260 with Epson's Ultra
Hi-Def ink for 8 x 10 color prints?

Many thanks,

Tom 
 


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

>Would you recommend the C88+ with MIS ink or the R260 with 
>Epson's Ultra Hi-Def ink for 8 x 10 color prints?

I'm guessing the 260 prints will look better, and the C88 with MIS color
pigments might produce prints that last marginally longer and are far
cheaper due to ink costs, especially if inks are purchased in bulk.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 
http://home1.gte.net/res0a2zt/photos.html