Converting an Epson 2100 to B&W only.

[Never Satisfied]

Hello. I'm sure this question has been asked before, numerous times. I want to convert my Epson 2100 (USA 2200) 7 ink printer to black only. Does anyone have any knowledge of a replacement ink system for example Lyson, that will do the job. There are numerous systems on the market all claiming to be the best, clearly only one of them is right!

I don't intend on ever colour printing with the machine again and was hoping to find a bulk system that does a warm / neutral / cool tone black and white print.

All help is appreciated. Andrew.

 

[Desert Shooter]

Black and White only printing

Black and White only printing

I too am interested in hearing of you folk's reccomendations and insights. My Epson 2200 prints wonderful prints on Luster, but awful BW. The printers can be had now for not too much, and I would expect, make a delightful BW only printer.

 

[kaiyen]

The 2200 is easy. Get Quadtone RIP (quadtonerip.com) and it'll print neutral B&W even with the color inkset in there.

Is the 2100 the European version of the 2200? Then that will work, too.

For a full conversion with more options, you can look at inksupply.com

 

[Bob Michaels]

You should read Clayton Jones' series of articles http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm especially #3a about Black Only printing w the 2200. I strongly recommend using the Eboni K from MIS http://www.inksupply.com/ for a more neutral black.

If you are one of those who is just convinced that anything simple cannot not work as well as a complex solution, then Black Only printing is not for you. But I printed this way for years. I still compare some of those BO prints to what I get from my 2400 and wonder which I like better.

If nothing else, read all of Clayton's articles and you'll learn quite a bit. I remember having a credit in there for something I contributed.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

you'll need at least a different brand black cartridge, Epsons are warm toned blacks. BTW, I've done both printing methods above with similar results, warm toned blacks aren't bad but they're not real BW.

Todd

 

[myoptic3]

Bob is on the money. I have used the 2200, 1260, and 1280 printers using M.I.S. Eboni black ink for black only printing, and the results are 100% archival and look great. But this type of printing isn't for every image. It is ridiculously easy to pop in a cartridge and see how it works for you. Prints best on matt papers. Give yourself some time to do a lot of trial proofs and see what you think. Epson enhanced matt, or even double sided matt paper is cheap and great for your proofing. You are only using the one ink cartridge (except for cleaning cycles), so you can run off a ton of proofs for next to nothing. Once you have a good proof, print a large print on good matt paper and you will be impressed. I get best results printing at the highest dpi the printer can print.

Here is a crop shot of a black only print, taken thru the glass of the framed photo. Amazing for only one ink, and this is a low resolution file.

 

[rich815]

For the 2100/2200 BO printing is the way to go. And take it from someone who's been through it all with all the third party ink bottles and set up and software. Bob's links above the Clayton's articles will send you in the right direction. I get wonderful B&W prints from my 2200 using that method, simply gorgeous.

However, if you really insist on learning more here is not the place to ask. Instead go here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint

(but don't say I didn't warn you!) 😱

 

[Never Satisfied]

Thanks for that, I'll check out Claytons atricles. I became so dissatisfied with the Epson set up that I haven't used the printer for 12 months now. I got tired of green or magenta casts in my prints because of the way the printer was set up.
And yes, the 2100 is the Australain version od the 2200.

Thanks Andrew.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I'll second the recommendation for Quadtone RIP. It gives neutral BW that is much nicer looking than black only printing, which I have tried and did not like....dot size way too big. I also have the rather grossly overpriced Imageprint RIP which is excellent too if you can afford it....I like it over QTR because it includes profiles for just about every paper out there. You can make profiles for QTR but the Spectrophotometer needed costs far more than Imageprint cost. Quadtone RIP is free to try and only $50 shareware fee is you like it.

 

[rich815]

....that is much nicer looking than black only printing, which I have tried and did not like....dot size way too big.

Personally I cannot see any dots on my BO prints unless I get out a magnifying glass.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Personally I cannot see any dots on my BO prints unless I get out a magnifying glass.

It probably depends on what kind of paper you use; highly textured papers like Epson Velvet hide the dots very effectively. Smooth ones like Enhanced Matte (or whatever its called now...its name's been changed yet again!) or my new favorite Ilford Gold Fibre Silk show the dots glaringly. I am a lot younger than most people on RFF and my eyes are extremely sharp....I can see details in prints that a lot of other people I have shown prints to in person miss so I may be overly picky. Having said that, I still think that Quadton RIP is the deal of the century for BW prints from the 2200/2100 because the quality really is better even if 90% of your viewers cannot see it.

 

[kaiyen]

It's a tad bit weird to cite your sight (ha) as a reason why dots would show up. I'm pretty sure that Rich isn't blind...

It does depend a lot on the paper, and I also agree that I'm not happy with the dithering pattern with BO printing. But I've had dithering issues with some tonal transitions with my UT2 set, too, and that's 5 inks plus a toning one.

I really want to get an R2400 or R1800 and use one of the methods that MIS now offers. But it's just not a top priority...

 

[venchka]

Epson 1280 and Black Only printing

Epson 1280 and Black Only printing

To date, I have only made a few prints with my Epson 1280 and the Epson black ink. Here's what I learned very quickly:

1. Epson printer. Epson Premium Photo Luster Paper. Epson Black Ink. Epson ICC Profile. Green and white output for sure. Yuck!

2. Epson printer. Moab entrada Rag Natural 300 paper. Everything else the same. Heavenly results.

My suggestion: Buy a box of the Moab paper and give it a thorough evaluation before embarking on different inks. If you aren't happy with the Epson ink on Moab paper, then try a third party ink with the Moab paper.

Do not: Use the Moab profile with an Epson printer. I tried that. Instead of green and white I got magenta and white. Awful. It's totally amazing and baffling to me, but the Moab profile doesn't work with an Epson printer.

Good luck!

 

[Never Satisfied]

Had a crack at BO printing on some Ilford smooth pearl and I got the same results, a very warm almost dense lavender colour, but as has been pointed out, it is the Ilford black ink. I am please to report that there was no discernable dot characteristic, even through a loupe. I am about to order the Quad tone RIP software and a CFS-2200-UT7 with MIS Ultratone ebony black. This is a seven ink black only ink set. I'll let you know how it performs. Andrew.

 

[kaiyen]

QTR is free, and try that before you order the CFS, IMO.