Mono printing

[Stephen L]

I'm seeking recommendations for an affordable mono inkjet printer. It can be just A4, but the important thing is to print rich blacks without a colour cast. As a bonus I would like the cartridges to be affordable. (some hope!)

 

[tijuana taxi]

I don't print much in Mono and from the printers I have owned in recent years only one met your requirements.
That was a Canon Pixma Pro 10, excellent, but extremely expensive to run as a hobbyist.
My current IP8750 is fine for my purposes and economical, but wouldn't recommend it to you.

 

[woof woof]

If you can't find a good mono option maybe a colour printer could still be an option? I ask because my Epson R2880 has a cartridge you swap in / out for mono / colour printing. I've been happy with the IQ of mono prints and haven't seen any colour cast. One drawback would be that the constant cleaning cycles these things do would eventually empty any otherwise unused colour cartridges.

 

[Box Brownie]

Affordable is relative.. And AFAIK the only mono inkjet printers are aimed at document printing not photo printing.....so a colour print with known good b&w performance is a logical step?

The Epson ET-8500 is recognized (AFAIK) by the Epson Print Layout software and one setting is ABW (Advanced Black & White).

I to date have only test printed Keith Cooper's b&w test images on my ET-8550 (the above printers bigger brother) and IMO the prints are good in ABW

 

[Stephen L]

I should rephrase my question. I mean colour printers which can print true mono images without colour casts. I know some of the top-end printers can do this, but lower priced?

 

[Box Brownie]

I should rephrase my question. I mean colour printers which can print true mono images without colour casts. I know some of the top-end printers can do this, but lower priced?

Perhaps you best say what your budget is, as that may inform any feedback?

 

[Stephen L]

Perhaps you best say what your budget is, as that may inform any feedback?

Good question. No budget, but I was hoping around the £300 mark. Much more and I’m probably better going to a 3rd party.

 

[TimHughes]

The paper has a big impact too, you have that covered?

 

[Stephen L]

The paper has a big impact too, you have that covered?

I’ll cover that if and when I get the printer, but it will probably be from the Permajet stable because that’s what I like

 

[Box Brownie]

I’ll cover that if and when I get the printer, but it will probably be from the Permajet stable because that’s what I like

And to make you get a custom profile for the paper

 

[Andrew Benbow]

You could look at contact printing

 

[Stephen L]

You could look at contact printing

Explain?

 

[Box Brownie]

You could look at contact printing

Explain?

I too wondered about the suggestion especially in regard to, is there a digital equivalent of 'contact printing '

It has been more than 40 years since I last made a contact print

 

[Andrew Benbow]

Explain?

Here you go

View: https://youtu.be/l7vTIyRcSZI?t=1684

 

[Stephen L]

Here you go

View: https://youtu.be/l7vTIyRcSZI?t=1684

Yes, I had already watched that but had no idea how the negative was made. In any case, my desire is to get crisp, clear mono images with glossy blacks - clinical if you like

 

[Box Brownie]

@Stephen L

You might find this page of interest

Digital black and white photography articles and reviews

Specialist digital black and white photography page. Articles and reviews covering taking and editing monochrome images and how to print them

www.northlight-images.co.uk

 

[Box Brownie]

Yes, I had already watched that but had no idea how the negative was made. In any case, my desire is to get crisp, clear mono images with glossy blacks - clinical if you like

I wonder if he inkjet printing onto a clear film and by reversing out the image i.e. create a negative image in PS or other editing software and then make a print as described in the video

 

[Sangoma]

HP printers print B&W with just the black cartridge used

Black blacks, and looks as good as any B&W darkroom print, though not a glossy as using a glazing sheet.

Resolution is 600DPI, though as with all inkjets, the actual resolution on the final print depends on the paper, too absorbent or too glossy both make the "dots" bigger or smudged when looking with a loupe / magnifying glass.

With the eye, they look very sharp, but not as sharp as I have seen from professional printers. Like anything, you get what you pay for.

Ink for HP is inexpensive, less than 5p a page.

 

[Stephen L]

HP printers print B&W with just the black cartridge used

Black blacks, and looks as good as any B&W darkroom print, though not a glossy as using a glazing sheet.

Resolution is 600DPI, though as with all inkjets, the actual resolution on the final print depends on the paper, too absorbent or too glossy both make the "dots" bigger or smudged when looking with a loupe / magnifying glass.

With the eye, they look very sharp, but not as sharp as I have seen from professional printers. Like anything, you get what you pay for.

Ink for HP is inexpensive, less than 5p a page.

Now that's interesting to know. Thank you.

 

[Andrew Benbow]

I wonder if he inkjet printing onto a clear film and by reversing out the image i.e. create a negative image in PS or other editing software and then make a print as described in the video

Basically yes. He made a digital negative using a special "clear film" and then uses that to make a contact print. Here's another video

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXUSaX8vpH8

 

[Stephen L]

Basically yes. He made a digital negative using a special "clear film" and then uses that to make a contact print. Here's another video

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXUSaX8vpH8

Fascinating, and I can see its appeal, but it's not for me. Not least because of cost. Being a mongrel of Lancastrian/Scottish/Yorkie persuasion I'm basically cheap careful with money.

 

[Ed Sutton]

Fascinating, and I can see its appeal, but it's not for me. Not least because of cost. Being a mongrel of Lancastrian/Scottish/Yorkie persuasion I'm basically cheap careful with money.

That's the first time I've heard of Lancastrians being tight. I thought it was just my Scottish and Yorkshire blood at work!

(Apologies for thread diversion)

 

[sphexx]

That's the first time I've heard of Lancastrians being tight. I thought it was just my Scottish and Yorkshire blood at work!

(Apologies for thread diversion)

I’ve probably said this before but as a southlander living in Yorkshire for 30 or so years I’ve found the people to be generous ( and softies compared to Londoners ) despite their reputation which I think comes from their common criticism of any meanness — “could peel oranges in his pocket” and so on. No idea about Lancastrians and Scots though.

 

[Stephen L]

That's the first time I've heard of Lancastrians being tight. I thought it was just my Scottish and Yorkshire blood at work!

(Apologies for thread diversion)

I was born in Lancashire and lived the first 30 years of my life there. Deep pockets and short arms!

 

[juggler]

Not quite what you asked, but Ilford and Metro offer the same true monochrome C-Type process:

Digital Colour C-Type Printing

Digital colour C-Type prints on genuine Fuji DPII photographic paper. Up to 12x18in Format.

harmanlab.com

Black and White Photo Prints | Order Online | Metroprint | UK

Order true black and white photo prints online from London's top professional lab Metroprint

metro-print.co.uk

The results tend not to be as punchy as inkjets but work really well for some images.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Your best bet are large older printers. They can be bought for pennies on the pound and their ink comparatively is very cheap, and that's before unopened eBay bargains

 

[Stephen L]

Your best bet are large older printers. They can be bought for pennies on the pound and their ink comparatively is very cheap, and that's before unopened eBay bargains

Good thought