Epson R300 & Black & White prints

[Nodge]

I've recently got am Epson R300, primarily for printing photos and I'm very
pleased with the results so far.

However, I've got quite a few old black and white photos which I want to
scan and reprint on the R300. The trouble is the printer actually seems to
be producing the print by printing in colour, using all the ink cartridges -
giving a slightly brownish tinge (and presumably using up a lot of ink in
the process). Is there any way I can get it to print using just the black
ink?

Nodge

 

[Peter Seddon]

I've recently got am Epson R300, primarily for printing photos and I'm
very
pleased with the results so far.

However, I've got quite a few old black and white photos which I want to
scan and reprint on the R300. The trouble is the printer actually seems to
be producing the print by printing in colour, using all the ink
cartridges -
giving a slightly brownish tinge (and presumably using up a lot of ink in
the process). Is there any way I can get it to print using just the black
ink?

Nodge

Use the advanced settings and tell it to print greyscale

Peter.

 

[Si]

Use the advanced settings and tell it to print greyscale

Peter.

But be ready to expect a grainier image.

Si.

 

[Glen S]

But be ready to expect a grainier image.

Si.

Haven't tried greyscale's yet on my R300, I almost bought HP just for
that reason, but the 80$ off I was getting on the R300 was to good to
pass up. Reading this post though got me to wondering why Epson does not
offer photo grey cartridges like the HP? Perhaps because the print head
is not part of the cartridge like the HP?

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Epson does offer a "light black" ink for some of their printers, such as
the 2200 and I believe the R800.

Considering what one pays for the R200 and R300, I'm sure Epson figures:

1) most people will rarely print in black only other than for line
drawing and text

2) The all color grayscale is pretty good

3) It uses up a bit more ink, which helps their bottom line

I have printed grayscale images with only the black cartridge on
printers with even more coarse inkheads, and the results were very
pleasing if you didn't get up in their "face", even with no light gray ink.

Some of Epson's printers have 3rd party "Piezo" print black inks made
for them where the drivers are specialized and the inks are different
densities of black. The results can be stunning.

Art

 

[Glen S]

Epson does offer a "light black" ink for some of their printers, such as
the 2200 and I believe the R800.

Considering what one pays for the R200 and R300, I'm sure Epson figures:

1) most people will rarely print in black only other than for line
drawing and text

2) The all color grayscale is pretty good

3) It uses up a bit more ink, which helps their bottom line

I have printed grayscale images with only the black cartridge on
printers with even more coarse inkheads, and the results were very
pleasing if you didn't get up in their "face", even with no light gray ink.

Some of Epson's printers have 3rd party "Piezo" print black inks made
for them where the drivers are specialized and the inks are different
densities of black. The results can be stunning.

I think I had a look at the "Piezo" inks on their website, IIRC they
dont have them for the R300, but I'll have another look and see...

 

[Arthur Entlich]

You may well be correct. I am not sure which models they are offering
the piezo set for. There may be other sets available form other sources.


Quite honestly, you don't need anything more than a 4 color printer for
piezo B&W printing, so you might be able to pick up a used model
somewhere inexpensively.

Art

 

[Ed Ruf]

Epson does offer a "light black" ink for some of their printers, such as
the 2200 and I believe the R800.

The R800 has two black carts. One glossy and one matte.

 

[Nodge]

Use the advanced settings and tell it to print greyscale

Peter.

Peter, I tried that but I still got the brownish tinge which must mean the
coloured inks were used. I think the "greyscale" setting is only to print
colour photos as "greyscale". The photos I'm printing are already greyscale
so it doesn't have any effect.

Nodge

 

[Nodge]

seems

Peter, I tried that but I still got the brownish tinge which must mean the
coloured inks were used. I think the "greyscale" setting is only to print
colour photos as "greyscale". The photos I'm printing are already greyscale
so it doesn't have any effect.

Nodge

Cancel that - it does in fact print in black ink only - but gives a fairly
coarse image.

Nodge

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Thanks for the clarification.

Art

The R800 has two black carts. One glossy and one matte.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Take a close look with a magnifier, you should see separate colored dots
(cyan, magenta, cyan, etc...) if not it could be the black ink... I have
heard complaints about the Durabrite black inks having a warm tone.

Art