3800: How much ink wasted switching from ABW to color mode?

[hassiman]

Hi,

I was just wondering how significant the ink waste is when switching the 3800 from ABW to color mode or vis versa?

[Jeff Magidson]

Hi,

I was just wondering how significant the ink waste is when switching the 3800 from ABW to color mode or vis versa?

none, zero

[jjlphoto]

I wonder if you mean from PK to MK ink perhaps? ON the 3800, it is very little. since both are installed, it is nothing like the other Epsons. Loss is barely noticeable

[vandevanterSH]

Hi,

I was just wondering how significant the ink waste is when switching the 3800 from ABW to color mode or vis versa?

this is from Eric Chan's site:

"Epson claims that switching from PK to MK uses 1.52 mL of ink and that switching from MK to PK uses 4 mL of ink.

Here are the results from my own testing.

Switching from PK to MK takes 2:04 minutes. According to the printer panel, 2% of MK ink is used in the process. 2% of 80 mL is 1.6 mL of ink, so this is comparable to Epson's claim of 1.52 mL. No other inks are consumed during the switch. As of October 2007, ink costs around $0.56/mL, so the cost of switching from PK to MK is about 85 cents.

Switching from MK to PK takes 3:07 minutes. According to the printer panel, 5% of PK ink is used in the process. 5% of 80 mL is 4 mL of ink, so this matches Epson's claim. No other inks are consumed during the switch. As of October 2007, ink costs around $0.56/mL, so the cost of switching from MK to PK is about $2.25.

http://people.csail.mit.edu/ericchan/dp/Ep...html#swap_pk_mk

That about $3.00 for a round trip...The 4880 is estimated to cost $50-75 per "round trip".

Steve

[Jonathan Wienke]

That about $3.00 for a round trip...The 4880 is estimated to cost $50-75 per "round trip".

Steve

Try actually reading the OP's question next time before posting. ABW (advanced black & white) vs color mode has nothing to do with matte black vs gloss black ink swap. ABW simply uses the printer firmware to print an image in B&W from grayscale data instead of using the printer driver to do so. ABW can be used with either matte or gloss black ink, depending on the media you are printing on. Since you don't need to switch black ink to use ABW, there is zero ink waste involved in switching between ABW and color as long as you aren't switching from matte to glossy or vice versa at the same time.

[hassiman]

Try actually reading the OP's question next time before posting. ABW (advanced black & white) vs color mode has nothing to do with matte black vs gloss black ink swap. ABW simply uses the printer firmware to print an image in B&W from grayscale data instead of using the printer driver to do so. ABW can be used with either matte or gloss black ink, depending on the media you are printing on. Since you don't need to switch black ink to use ABW, there is zero ink waste involved in switching between ABW and color as long as you aren't switching from matte to glossy or vice versa at the same time.

Thanks for clearing that up... I'm just learning a lot of this stuff.

Which ink would you suggest would be best for printing B&W and color on Epson Velvet Fine Art paper?

[Jonathan Wienke]

Which ink would you suggest would be best for printing B&W and color on Epson Velvet Fine Art paper?

The one recommended by Epson, which I'm pretty sure is the matte black. Double-check before printing though.

[vandevanterSH]

Try actually reading the OP's question next time before posting.
*********
Good point!!  Sorry for the confusion.


Steve

[hassiman]

Thanks guys... I REALLY appreciate the advice...

One more question...

Is it true that the user does not directly choose the ink. Once the paper setting is selected, the printer will automatically select the appropriate black ink (Matte Black for Fine Art paper)?

Is this true when printing with the ABW mode and printing in color as long as the media (Fine Art Velvet) remains the same?  Photo black only comes on line when using a paper that calls for it?

[AlanS]

when you select the paper both the type of ink and the amount of ink to lay down is selected by the printer. coated material use less ink the vellum papers which require a heavier film of ink.