Which Black Ink?

[Dave Carter]

Hi, I have just setup my new Epson 4880 printer and am anxious to try several new papers.  With the printer, I received a "Professional Media Sample Guide" that contains small samples of all the Epson papers.  I know some of the gloss and semi gloss papers are best printed with Photo Black Ink and that the Enhanced Matte etc are best printed with Matte Black Ink.  However, what about all the other papers in between.  Is there somewhere that lists the papers and which black ink to use?  I can not find a source.

Thanks.

[colinm]

Keep in mind in the inkjet world, "matte" refers to actual honest matte papers, not that crazy N-surface nonsense chemical RC printers consider to be matte.

Epson includes instructions with everything, but it's really easy: If it's glossy, photo black. If it's matte, matte black. There is nothing in between in the Epson line. If you have to ask yourself "Is this a matte paper?" the answer's no.

Or you can just print on everything with photo black depending on your personal style and goals. The blacks are considerably less dense on matte paper printing that way, but for some images it's not really an issue.

[titusbear]

good luck /enjoy your new machine - it's a real bear/pro machine. I get great ink/paper prices from Shades of Paper.  
The only 'minus' that I've found about my 4880 is that it did not come with a 'be sure to properly set the left paper guide,  you idiot' sticker to place on the front of the machine. Took me way to long to learn that one.  Remember to properly set the guide snugly against the paper edge and things will work like a charm.

[abiggs]

It amazed me that Epson thought it was a good idea to require their customers to switch black inks. Here we are more than 3 or 4 years after the Epson 4000 was replaced, and we still don't have a professional grade 17" carriage printer where we can have both black inks installed. Amazing that we have to make that choice. And an expensive choice to switch between them on any regular basis.

Tisk tisk, Epson.

[titusbear]

I'm not sure I'd be 'amazed'
Epson obviously has decided that for heavy duty users /at that price point - companies like Nash Editions, et.al. would simply have at least one machine for matte and one for photo black.... not all that far fetched to understand - especially when you look at the really heavy duty printers out there (like Ixia) that pretty much have to be moving ink constantly.  
Epson doesn't see the 'occasional' semi-pro photog market strong/demanding enough to invest the bucks in technology.  The new 990's (at 24" and  larger) might be the smallest they go in their realization that shops might only buy one '990s (as opposed to two 4880's).