Digital BW, The Print

I currently print with a Stylus C88+ using the MIS EZN inkset.  I find it easy to use and affordable if I refill the cartridges.  Generally print on Photo Rag.  

I'm not unhappy  with the prints - except for large, uniform areas - but wonder if print quality would improve if I switched to the 1400, perhaps using the UT-14 or some other inkset.

There is little discussion these days on this forum about the C88+ and imagine most users have moved on to something else (better?).

Any suggestions or shared experiences would be apprecitated.

Thanks.
Paul

"dpbreger" <dpbreger@...> wrote:

> I currently print with a Stylus C88+ using the MIS EZN inkset.
> I find it easy to use and affordable if I refill the cartridges.
>  Generally print on Photo Rag.  
> 
> I'm not unhappy  with the prints - except for large, uniform areas
> - but wonder if print quality would improve if I switched to the 
> 1400, perhaps using the UT-14 or some other inkset.

Yes, it would.  The 1400's very small drop size makes a difference.  It also is a hextone printer that is supported by a number of inksets and workflows, and the larger size of print is also nice.  Nothing is going to be as easy as the C88+ with the "EZ" inkset, but it's simplicity also limits its quality and flexibility.

> There is little discussion these days on this forum about the 
> C88+ and imagine most users have moved on to something else 
> (better?).

"Better" is all relative to the intended uses.  For my daughter at college, the ability to set up a C88+ with a cheap CIS and the EZ version of Carbon-6 -- and have it go all year with no refills or maintenance needed -- makes it the best as well as cheapest printer there is for that use.  But for me, the 1400 is much better.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "pr_roark" <pr_roark@...> wrote:
>
> "dpbreger" <dpbreger@> wrote:
> 
> > I currently print with a Stylus C88+ using the MIS EZN inkset.
> > I find it easy to use and affordable if I refill the cartridges.
> >  Generally print on Photo Rag.  
> > 
> > I'm not unhappy  with the prints - except for large, uniform areas
> > - but wonder if print quality would improve if I switched to the 
> > 1400, perhaps using the UT-14 or some other inkset.
> 
> Yes, it would.  The 1400's very small drop size makes a difference.  It also is a hextone printer that is supported by a number of inksets and workflows, and the larger size of print is also nice.  Nothing is going to be as easy as the C88+ with the "EZ" inkset, but it's simplicity also limits its quality and flexibility.
> 
> > There is little discussion these days on this forum about the 
> > C88+ and imagine most users have moved on to something else 
> > (better?).
> 
> "Better" is all relative to the intended uses.  For my daughter at college, the ability to set up a C88+ with a cheap CIS and the EZ version of Carbon-6 -- and have it go all year with no refills or maintenance needed -- makes it the best as well as cheapest printer there is for that use.  But for me, the 1400 is much better.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
>
Thanks Paul.

I guess I'll need to research the different inkset possibilities.  Any suggestions here?  Would I go wrong using the UT14 rather than an Eboni-6 workflow?  I understand the differences in their compositions but have no idea as to the appearances of the final prints.

Paul B.

"dpbreger" <dpbreger@...> wrote:
>
>...I'll need to research the different inkset possibilities...
> Would I go wrong using the UT14 rather than an Eboni-6 workflow?  

Keeping in mind that one can change inksets, I think it might make sense to start with UT14 (http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/UT14.pdf)because of its flexibility.  You can print on either matte or glossy papers without changing inks and with a variety of tones.  So, you'll be able to see what your preferences are.

I'm currently using what I call my NC2 inkset (http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/UT14.pdf), but it's not something that MIS sells as a single inkset and requires QTR -- which I recommend all enthusiasts learn how to use -- including how to linearize -- at some point.

I've also used Eboni-6 (http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/Eboni-6.pdf) in the 1400.  Being a monotone, 100% carbon mix, it's very easy to use and very lightfast, but it's limited in tone and paper choices.  The Carbon-6 version of it is about the same, less expensive, but you have to mix it yourself.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com