Mark, I was thinking mainly re photo type paper and in particular for B&W where the entire K3 inkset excells. This includes the LLK. which is why I would not use the Phatte system. I have not used Enhanced Matte .I should give it a go. I mentioned in an earlier thread that I was testing a number of different papers. I have been doing this with a special chart devised by Les Walkling and analysed by him. So far I have printed on a number of fine art matte type papers including BreathingColor Stirling , Crane Museo and a number of papers from Cartiere Magnani, Hahnemuhle, Arches, Canson, Lana , St Cuthberts Mill and Awagami. So far none of these produce an acceptable black or low zone separation using the Photo Black. For mid key colour images many of these papers produce very acceptable results with PK. FWIW most landscape photographers I print with seem to prefer the photo type papers like Epson Premium Lustre or Semigloss. At the moment I see 2 printers as the only solution for a number of reasons.
Since Epson was able to solve the PK/MK problem with the 4000, I am not entirely convinced a similar solution using 9 inks would excessively elevate the cost of a modified machine. I wouldn't care if I had to attach the ninth ink container with a tap screwed on cradle on the side of my 9800.
When the inevitable replacements to the 800 series do come out the new sales talk will be very interesting.
All this aside the new printers , with the new inks and software are amazing. We would be churlish indeed not to acknowledge probably the best fine print technology ever. Bar none.
Cheers Brian
www.pharoseditions.com.auPS Yes I have printed Platinum, Calotype ,Ciba, Dye transfer, Tri colour carbon and most of the others.
I'd still like a bash at Collotype though