recommend me a monochrome printer?

[darkhorse120]

Can anybody suggest a good printer for producing small monochrome ONLY prints (no bigger than A4)?

[ChrisP]

Epson R2880 or R3000 are killer for B+W but they do color as well

[Schlapp]

http://www.laboratoire-tirages-argentiques.com/

[FrankHarries]

get an Epson 1400 and throw out the cartridges and get monochrome ones. (set of 6 -I Think- different blacks - offered in Germany by www.farbenwerk.de - I guess you'll find something similar in other countries as well.

[DominikDUK]

Schlapp I wanted to give the same answer Nathalie Lopparelli is definitely one of the best B/W printers (I guess great minds think or are confused alike)

ChrisP's advice is a good one the Canon Pixma Pro-1 isn't bad either but I believe a little more expensive than a Epson R2880.

Dominik

[Bob Michaels]

Epson 2400 / 2800 / 2880 / 3000 / 3800 / 3880 all do great b&w prints with the Epson ink and software. Of course, there is a learning curve involving use of your image editor.

My exhibition prints are done with an Epson 2400 / Epson inks / Photoshop and the Epson print driver. I do use archival rag paper not made by Epson. I can make great prints on lower cost Epson paper (Epson Enhanced Matte a/k/a Ultra Premium Presentation Matte) but they are not archival.

I will add that the quality of your prints is more a function of your skill than the hardware. Just like your photos and cameras / lenses.

[mdarnton]

Is metamerism a thing of the past with Epson color printers printing B&W? Because I found it REALLY irritating.

[darkhorse120]

Thanks. I'm still confused! I have been told you cannot replace the colour inks with blacks as the printer wont work?!

I am in the uk; where can I buy these black ink sets and what is the best printer?

[rayfoxlee]

If you can get hold of a good HP Photosmart 8450, then that would do the job well, as it has a 3 tone black/grey cartridge (called Photo Grey) and you can print from that alone. It works well. For a cheaper ink option, Jet Tec makes a compatible 3 tone black/grey cartridge. I haven't tried this yet. Stinky Inks apparently sells this.

If the HP option is no good for you, it really does mean a higher-end A3 printer (eg one of the latest Epsons) that can produce good mono.

Hope you find what you are looking for.

Ray

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by darkhorse120

Thanks. I'm still confused! I have been told you cannot replace the colour inks with blacks as the printer wont work?!

I am in the uk; where can I buy these black ink sets and what is the best printer?

I would ask why are you searching for a complex solution when much simpler ones exist right out of the box?

Ten years ago I was using six tones of black and special printer driver to make good b&w prints. It was complicated and had quite a learning curve just to master the printer part. Five or Six years ago, Epson introduced the 2400 which has three tones of black and a built in raster image processor. Everything I had learned became unnecessary.

But, if you are one of those who believe that a complicated and more expensive solution has to be better, check out Jon Cone's Piezography ink sets. www.inkjetmall.com

[darkhorse120]

Hi Bob,
Thanks for your imput.
No, I am not 'one of those who believe that a complicated solution has to be better'. I am merely doing my 'homework' first. I have spent a great deal of time in a darkroom in the past and haven't enough experience of modern technology!

Several people have suggested the Epson 2880 as the way to go. So, I neesd to find one I can afford haha

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by darkhorse120

................. Several people have suggested the Epson 2880 as the way to go. So, I neesd to find one I can afford haha

Try Epson.com. Buy a refurbished one if they have any as they are as good as new. Epson has free shipping and usually the lowest prices. I have bought my last 7 printers (over 11 years) that way.

[migtex]

I went for a "old" HP Pro B8850 with the Farbenwerk.com high capacity pigment inks and couldn't be happier.
Unfortunately HP only produces big models (the Z3200 is the same as the B9180/B8850) but for 99 euros new (with inks) on Staples I could not let it pass!

[KenR]

I am intriged by the pigment inks at the Piezography web site. Anyone have any practical experience with this method?

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by KenR

I am intriged by the pigment inks at the Piezography web site. Anyone have any practical experience with this method?

I have used Jon Cone's Piezography ink sets and workflow although it was years ago. I found it expensive and complicated but not producing prints that looked any better. Jon does have a small loyal group that swear by his inks but they seem to have largely become unnecessary in the modern era.

BTW, all the higher end Epson printers (2200 up from 10 years ago) use 100% pigment inks. It took a long time to develop 100% pigment inksets that equaled the D-Max and color gamut of dye based ink sets but it has happened.

[JayM]

I want a printer for the same purposes but keep hearing that if you don't use your printer all the time the nozzles get clogged etc. How often do you all use your printers for B&W and do you have problems with clogging?

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by JayM

I want a printer for the same purposes but keep hearing that if you don't use your printer all the time the nozzles get clogged etc. How often do you all use your printers for B&W and do you have problems with clogging?

I use Epson 2400s. I sometimes do not print for a month or more. I have never had a nozzle clog with those newer model printers. I don't even bother doing nozzle checks any more.

[JayM]

Originally Posted by Bob Michaels

I use Epson 2400s. I sometimes do not print for a month or more. I have never had a nozzle clog with those newer model printers. I don't even bother doing nozzle checks any more.

Awesome. That is exactly what I wanted to hear

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by darkhorse120

........................... Several people have suggested the Epson 2880 as the way to go. So, I neesd to find one I can afford haha

A new 2880 is $499 direct from Epson with free shipping.

But consider the 3000 for $650 new as the extra ink capacity (26cc vs 13cc carts) almost makes up the price differential.

[Trius]

From refurb it seems a 38xx is available for just under $1K. I could print in a wet darkroom for less with better results, I think.

[shadowfox]

Originally Posted by Trius

From refurb it seems a 38xx is available for just under $1K. I could print in a wet darkroom for less with better results, I think.

Earl,
Until my (new) darkroom is finished, I'd have to settle with digital prints. I really, really miss my darkroom.

To the OP, don't discount Canon Pixma 9500 Mark II. For examples and comparison (yes even against darkroom print) read it on my journal.

[Trius]

Will,

I miss my darkroom, too. Fortunately I have a community darkroom here, just need to get into it.

I think a lot of people dismiss or overlook the Canon printers. I think that's a mistake.

[darkhorse120]

Can someone clarify whether the Epson 2880 has thee black inks or two please? Are all three used at once, or only two?