black and white photo printing

[jann1033]

does anyone have an epson, pixma or hp printer they use for black and white photo printing? if so pros and cons please...

 

[Gdad]

I have a large format HP Photosmart 8750- It worked pretty well for B&W since it had 3 inks- black, color, and gray. The B&W's actually looked B&W. But I don't use it much to be honest. A few large B&W prints will smoke a $30 ink cartridge in a hurry- and the large size photo paper is fairly expensive as well. I don't print much but when I do I just order it from Smugmug- the big printer is collecting dust in the top of the closet.

 

[jann1033]

i want to try printing some stuff on unusual paper which is why i am considering it, ie picturing in my head some nice rag type/handmade type paper with some sepia or b &w and torn edges mounted on maybe black board...., sigh...otherwise mpix does a fine job for the normal stuff but since i like b&w i want to be able to print that if i'm going to sink money into a printer anyway. which is what attracted me to the pixma , you can print on fine art papers up to 13x19 but it only has 2 b&w inks i think...if i could find a printer that doesn't cost more than a computer i could have some fun, however you gave me an idea and maybe i'll check ebay or craiglist or photo used places...in case others have some gathering dust as well

 

[Furgus]

The Epson R2400 is one of the best printers for B&W. I have the R1800 and kick myself every time I try to print B&W on it using any other paper the Epson Velvet Fine Art.

Have you also looked at this?
Piezography
Basically it is an ink system that replaces all of your color inks with blacks and grays. I wanted to do this with my old R280, yes I only use Epson printers, but I did not get around to it. Someday I will convert my R1800 to a B&W only printer when I feel the need to replace it.
These ink sets might be what you are looking for if you don't want to spend a ton and are pretty happy with your current printer.

EDIT-I just looked at the Piezography website and they are not allowed to sell cartridges for Epson anymore. http://www.itc.epson.com/
So there cheaper cartridges just got a whole lot more expensive with a tank system...bummer.....

 

[thomas998]

i want to try printing some stuff on unusual paper which is why i am considering it, ie picturing in my head some nice rag type/handmade type paper with some sepia or b &w and torn edges mounted on maybe black board...., sigh...otherwise mpix does a fine job for the normal stuff but since i like b&w i want to be able to print that if i'm going to sink money into a printer anyway. which is what attracted me to the pixma , you can print on fine art papers up to 13x19 but it only has 2 b&w inks i think...if i could find a printer that doesn't cost more than a computer i could have some fun, however you gave me an idea and maybe i'll check ebay or craiglist or photo used places...in case others have some gathering dust as well

If I were you I think I would just use any old cheap HP printer to do some test on... I'm not sure of the results you are going to get with home made paper... it would be horrible to drop some serious cash on a high end printer and find that it your paper isn't ink jet friendly.

 

[jann1033]

If I were you I think I would just use any old cheap HP printer to do some test on... I'm not sure of the results you are going to get with home made paper... it would be horrible to drop some serious cash on a high end printer and find that it your paper isn't ink jet friendly.

very true although most of the printers i have been looking at list what papers you can use...that's why i am only really interested in the ones that have fine art paper listed...obviously i'd have to experiment with any one paper but right now my printer does a lousy job printing photos period and i was going to get another one anyway so figured i may a s well get one that does as much as what i want it to as i can. the main thing i was concerned about was th ink after the paper so it looks like i could maybe get a cheaper printer and use the ink furgus mentioned...oops just read the last sentence so so much for that idea
as of yet the 2400 is my dream machine but i would like to find one cheaper if i could