Digital BW, The Print

I have an Epson R260 printing color. I was planning to upgrade that. I also want B&W printing. From reading the forum, it seems the best way to start if buying a printer for B&W is the Epson 1400. If I bouhgt 2, one for color, and one for B&W, then I'm spending almost $500 anyway. Should I just buy an Epson R2880 which is on sale with $200 rebate?

On the one hand, I guess I can manipulate results better with 1400 and UT-14 inks. 

Is the R260 good enough at B&W (I don't need wide format now)? Maybe I should buy the 1400 for new color printer and convert the R260 to B&W? Apparently the ink set options aren't as flexible as the UT-14...

My Experience so far: I bought the Epson 1400 printer specifically to  
try Jon Cone's carbon inks - and it's stunning!!!! But I tested the  
1400 for color, as recommended, first and don't believe it's an  
adequate color printer. Far too bold for true color. I'm looking at  
the 2880 - also on sale - for color though I also like Canon color  
printers, but there's no bulk ink system for them.

Regards,

G. Davey, Ph. D.


On Nov 9, 2009, at 5:29 PM, want2pbw wrote:

> I have an Epson R260 printing color. I was planning to upgrade  
> that. I also want B&W printing. From reading the forum, it seems  
> the best way to start if buying a printer for B&W is the Epson  
> 1400. If I bouhgt 2, one for color, and one for B&W, then I'm  
> spending almost $500 anyway. Should I just buy an Epson R2880 which  
> is on sale with $200 rebate?
>
> On the one hand, I guess I can manipulate results better with 1400  
> and UT-14 inks.
>
> Is the R260 good enough at B&W (I don't need wide format now)?  
> Maybe I should buy the 1400 for new color printer and convert the  
> R260 to B&W? Apparently the ink set options aren't as flexible as  
> the UT-14...
>
> 



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

> 
> Is the R260 good enough at B&W (I don't need wide format now)? ...

See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/R260.htm

There are several options for B&W with the 260.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

The piezography stuff looks fantastic, but beyond my current budget.

I'm glad to see you still recommend the older R260 methods. I was concerned that that stuff was ancient history and not recommended any more.

My interest is in affordable schemes. Affordable is of course relative. I could just swing the R2880, but it's not comfortably affordable for me.

Thanks for the input.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "pr_roark" <paul.roark@...> wrote:

>
>  
> > 
> > Is the R260 good enough at B&W (I don't need wide format now)? ...
> 
> See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/R260.htm
> 
> There are several options for B&W with the 260.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
>

On Nov 9, 2009, at 11:13 PM, Gerald Davey wrote:

> But I tested the
> 1400 for color, as recommended, first and don't believe it's an
> adequate color printer. Far too bold for true color.

Boldness is a virtue that can be controlled... its ideal to have a  
breathtaking gamut, then control it effectively to get exactly the  
tones you want. Whether the 1400 offers the control necessary, or the  
consistancy under varying lightsources could be discussed, but the  
idea that its boldness is innately a flaw doesn't sit well with modern  
inkjet design theory...

C. David Tobie
Global Product Technology Manager
Digital Imaging & Home Theater
CDTobie@...


  ----------



Datacolor
www.datacolor.com/Spyder3





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

"want2pbw" <johned@...> wrote:

 
> I'm glad to see you still recommend the older R260 methods. ...

> My interest is in affordable schemes. ...

The most affordable are the self-mixed approaches.  
See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/Ink-Mixing.pdf

These also include variants that are the most stable.  
See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/R1800-Lightfastness.pdf

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

Hi,
I have an Epson 280 and I am using the MIS inks that Paul (helped) design.
When the printer works the quality is very good.
You have to print maybe twice a week to keep it from getting clogged.

Mike J.


-----Original Message-----
From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Gerald
Davey
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 9:13 PM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Best way to start -- have Epson R260

My Experience so far: I bought the Epson 1400 printer specifically to
try Jon Cone's carbon inks - and it's stunning!!!! But I tested the
1400 for color, as recommended, first and don't believe it's an
adequate color printer. Far too bold for true color. I'm looking at
the 2880 - also on sale - for color though I also like Canon color
printers, but there's no bulk ink system for them.

Regards,

G. Davey, Ph. D.

On Nov 9, 2009, at 5:29 PM, want2pbw wrote:

> I have an Epson R260 printing color. I was planning to upgrade
> that. I also want B&W printing. From reading the forum, it seems
> the best way to start if buying a printer for B&W is the Epson
> 1400. If I bouhgt 2, one for color, and one for B&W, then I'm
> spending almost $500 anyway. Should I just buy an Epson R2880 which
> is on sale with $200 rebate?
>
> On the one hand, I guess I can manipulate results better with 1400
> and UT-14 inks.
>
> Is the R260 good enough at B&W (I don't need wide format now)?
> Maybe I should buy the 1400 for new color printer and convert the
> R260 to B&W? Apparently the ink set options aren't as flexible as
> the UT-14...
>
>

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "want2pbw" <johned@...> wrote:
>
> 
> Is the R260 good enough at B&W (I don't need wide format now)? Maybe I should buy the 1400 for new color printer and convert the R260 to B&W? Apparently the ink set options aren't as flexible as the UT-14...
>

If print size is not a consideration, the R260 can make great BW prints with one of the BW ink sets. I run a R285 (similar to the R260) with MIS UT3D inks (leftover from my forner 2100) as dedicated BW printer next my 3800 workhorse printer. 

Joost

I have been following this thread with interest, but as I live in the UK, all of the Epson model numbers (apart from the 1400 strangely enough) are different, with mine being an R360. This uses the T0801-7 series of cartridges, incidentally, which hopefully are the same world wide. Do these R260 and R285 printers therefore use the same cartridges please, so that I would know if it would be possible to dedicate my R360 for B&W

Thank you,

TonyW.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: horstenj 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 9:27 AM
  Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Best way to start -- have Epson R260


    


  --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "want2pbw" <johned@...> wrote:
  >
  > 
  > Is the R260 good enough at B&W (I don't need wide format now)? Maybe I should buy the 1400 for new color printer and convert the R260 to B&W? Apparently the ink set options aren't as flexible as the UT-14...
  >

  If print size is not a consideration, the R260 can make great BW prints with one of the BW ink sets. I run a R285 (similar to the R260) with MIS UT3D inks (leftover from my forner 2100) as dedicated BW printer next my 3800 workhorse printer. 

  Joost 



  

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

Hi Tony,

The Epson R260 uses TO771-6 or TO781-6, where the 77 series are higher capacity.  The R260/R280/1400 all use 6 inks Black, magenta, light magenta, yello, cyan, light cyan. (I'm certain about the R260 here, and pretty certain about the 1400 and R280).

Looking at the 1400 in the store, even though the ink cartridges have different names, they appear to be identical to the ones I have for the R260.

John

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Tony Wells" <oaksfield@...> wrote:

>
> I have been following this thread with interest, but as I live in the UK, all of the Epson model numbers (apart from the 1400 strangely enough) are different, with mine being an R360. This uses the T0801-7 series of cartridges, incidentally, which hopefully are the same world wide. Do these R260 and R285 printers therefore use the same cartridges please, so that I would know if it would be possible to dedicate my R360 for B&W
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> TonyW.
> 
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: horstenj 
>   To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 9:27 AM
>   Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Best way to start -- have Epson R260
> 
> 
>     
> 
> 
>   --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "want2pbw" <johned@> wrote:
>   >
>   > 
>   > Is the R260 good enough at B&W (I don't need wide format now)? Maybe I should buy the 1400 for new color printer and convert the R260 to B&W? Apparently the ink set options aren't as flexible as the UT-14...
>   >
> 
>   If print size is not a consideration, the R260 can make great BW prints with one of the BW ink sets. I run a R285 (similar to the R260) with MIS UT3D inks (leftover from my forner 2100) as dedicated BW printer next my 3800 workhorse printer. 
> 
>   Joost 
> 
> 
> 
>   
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I was aware that Epson had different numbers for Europe and US, but also within Europe?? I'm in the Netherlands...

But my R285 indeed uses the TO801, TO802 etc cartridges, or I should  say "used" as I've refillable cartridges now (if I recall correctly ordered from the UK)

Joost
 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Tony Wells" <oaksfield@...> wrote:

>
> I have been following this thread with interest, but as I live in the UK, all of the Epson model numbers (apart from the 1400 strangely enough) are different, with mine being an R360. This uses the T0801-7 series of cartridges, incidentally, which hopefully are the same world wide. Do these R260 and R285 printers therefore use the same cartridges please, so that I would know if it would be possible to dedicate my R360 for B&W
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> TonyW.

Thank you Joost, as this is what I wanted to hear!

Tony.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: horstenj 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:35 PM
  Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Best way to start -- have Epson R260


    
  I was aware that Epson had different numbers for Europe and US, but also within Europe?? I'm in the Netherlands...

  But my R285 indeed uses the TO801, TO802 etc cartridges, or I should say "used" as I've refillable cartridges now (if I recall correctly ordered from the UK)

  Joost


  --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Tony Wells" <oaksfield@...> wrote:
  >
  > I have been following this thread with interest, but as I live in the UK, all of the Epson model numbers (apart from the 1400 strangely enough) are different, with mine being an R360. This uses the T0801-7 series of cartridges, incidentally, which hopefully are the same world wide. Do these R260 and R285 printers therefore use the same cartridges please, so that I would know if it would be possible to dedicate my R360 for B&W
  > 
  > Thank you,
  > 
  > TonyW.



  

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