Digital BW, The Print

I have converted my Epson R800 to a carbon black B&W printer using 
advice from Paul Roark and QTR and Eboni inks from MIS.

The B&W part works really well, and I am really pleased, B&W being 
most of my printing.

But I was led to believe that I could use the remaining Epson inks to 
print color "as if nothing had been changed in the R800."  I tried to 
print a quick portrait of my daughter yesterday and was really 
surprised to see how badly the printer did on color.  I am totally 
sure that this is opperator-error, not bitching at the printer, but 
what did I do wrong?  The print was really, really dark, and I am 
wondering if I somehow didn't set the "glop" position to be off.  If 
the printer thought that that cartridge space still had glop in it, 
wouldn't it lay down MIS Eboni ink "as if" it were glop?

If anyone knows the whys and hows of printing color on this printer, 
I would appreciate the advice.

Thanks.

D.

"douglastourtelot" wrote:
>
> I have converted my Epson R800 to a carbon black B&W printer using 
> advice from Paul Roark and QTR and Eboni inks from MIS.
> 
> The B&W part works really well, and I am really pleased, B&W being 
> most of my printing.
> 
> But I was led to believe that I could use the remaining Epson 
> inks to  print color "as if nothing had been changed in the R800." 

Paragraph 2 of my notes on the approach states, " ... the approach is 
that it allows the R800/1800 to also print full color on matte paper 
with the usual Epson driver ..."  
http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/R1800.htm  

With PK and Glop removed from the usual 3-MK setup and Eboni 
installed in those positinos, glossy printing is not going to work 
without inks being changed.

> ... 
> surprised to see how badly the printer did on color...
> 
> wondering if I somehow didn't set the "glop" position to be off.

With most of the matte paper settings, the driver grays out the Gloss 
option. So, I'm guessing you tried to use glossy paper.

>  If 
> the printer thought that that cartridge space still had glop in it, 
> wouldn't it lay down MIS Eboni ink "as if" it were glop?

Yes, that's exactly what it'll do if you select a glossy paper type 
setting and check Gloss.

Basically, it's easiest to stay with matte paper for color.  Then no 
inks need to be changed from the default 3-MK setup.  If you do want 
to print color on glossy paper, you need to at least change the PK 
position to PK.  This is easy.  If you want gloss optimizer to be 
used, it's more difficult to totally flush the Eboni out of that 
position.  It is not an efficient way to go.

Good luck with the setup.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

Paul,

Isn't there a difference in color between Epson's MK and Eboni? It seems like new profiles 
might be needed with this set up.

I'm about to move to color with my R1800, and I'm excited to see the results.

> Isn't there a difference in color between Epson's MK and Eboni?

Eboni is much cooler and more neutral than Epson MK.  I've heard that 
some can see cooler shadow tones.  I also notice a magenta difference 
when I compare the MIS R800 M with Epson M.  I was surprised I didn't 
see a major shift in just casual printing.

Whether one needs a new profile probably depends on how critical the 
color printing is.  I think MIS claims it's R800 replacement inks can 
use the same profiles.  For casual printing I've used them that way, 
but then I don't do serious color printing.  I suspect the majority of 
serious color printers make their own custom profiles.

Good luck with the system.

Paul       
www.PaulRoark.com