Black and White printing with carbon inks

[anorcross]

After I bought an Epson R1800 to replace my Epson 1280, I decided (on the suggestion of some members of this forum) to convert the 1280 to a B&W printer using carbon inks from MIS. I've been doing lots of test prints over the last week, and I have to say that I'm very pleased with the results, and can recommend this combination to anyone interested in top quality archival B&W prints up to 13" X 19". Here's a link to the MIS page about the 1280:
http://www.inksupply.com/ut2-1280.cfm
And here's the general page about Ultratone inks, which gives details about inks for other Epson printers:
http://www.inksupply.com/qn.cfm
At first I used Paul Roark's settings and curves (http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/UT2-Readme.htm), but I founds the curves a little too unreliable (sometimes they would rob the image of contrast, for example), but then I tried the Quad Tone RIP software (available for Mac or Windows):
http://www.quadtonerip.com/html/QTRoverview.html
The results are amazing. This printer driver allows you to select two different curves, from among four (cool, neutral, carbon, sepia), and to mix them in 5% increments (95-5, 90-10, 85-15, etc.). My favorite so far is a 50-50 mix of neutral (which is a bit on the cool side) and carbon (a bit warm), printed on Epson Premium Luster paper (which is acid-free and archival). This gives a slightly warm print that seems very close to what I remember producing in the darkroom many years ago. you can get the Epson 1280 new for $299 (after a $100 rebate), and I'm sure you can get a refurbished model for less. The R1800 makes superb color prints, but the 1280 with carbon inks blows it away for B&W. It's a bit on the slow side, but the results are worth waiting for.

[Chaz]

Alastair,
I agree with you completely. I have a Epson R220 with MIS inks and Hahnemuhle Photo Rag.
Chaz

[johnastovall]

Glad to hear you like the IMS inks. I've found them to be good.

But now you have me thinking about replacing my Epson C86 with a 1280. I've got to look at the RIP software to.

[anorcross]

I've read good things about Hahnemuhle Photo Rag paper. Does anyone know where to get it in Houston, or should I just order some online?

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by anorcross

I've read good things about Hahnemuhle Photo Rag paper. Does anyone know where to get it in Houston, or should I just order some online?

Try these people on-line.

http://www.inkjetart.com/wc/hahnemuhle.html

I got my R1800 from them and buy papers from them and find them very reliable and helpfull.

You might want to get the sample offer to see how you like it with some other papers.

http://www.inkjetart.com/art_papers.html

[anorcross]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

Try these people on-line.

http://www.inkjetart.com/wc/hahnemuhle.html

I got my R1800 from them and buy papers from them and find them very reliable and helpfull.

You might want to get the sample offer to see how you like it with some other papers.

http://www.inkjetart.com/art_papers.html

Thanks John. I've ordered the sample pack.

[epronske]

I have used the Quad Tone RIP with the Epson 2200 as described above with nice results; certainly better than with anything using the Epson 2200 drivers and profiles supplied by the paper manufacturers.