On my Epson C80, I always (when I remember) go to the trouble of selecting to use only Black. The ink levels reflect that I use mostly black, very seldom do I print in the default "Color."
I just wish I could figure out how to change the default to Black. I think I am supposed to be able to select some custom printing and set it for black, but I can't figure out how. When I was using an Epson Stylus Color 800 printer, I asked Epson if you could change the default. They replied "no. Epson assumed that if you bought a color printer you wanted to print color most of the time." Ha. Anyway I like the results I get from the Epson printers, both in color and black. Anne On Friday, January 3, 2003, at 04:37 PM, Jerry Yeager wrote: > That depends on how the application is using the black cartridge. Oddly > enough, black really isn't black. Even though ink jets are CMYK, they > try to be RGB, so sometimes "black" is created by selectively mixing > the colors and sometimes it is created by only using the black > cartridge. if you notice, a lot of times there is an option to print > using only black, this will force the printer to use only the black > cartridge. > > Jerry > > On Friday, January 3, 2003, at 04:16 PM, Charles Parsons wrote: > >> >> I have and Epson Stylus Photo 820 printer and the "Remaining Ink Level" >> monitor shows that all colors, including black, are being used at the >> same >> rate -- makes me think the printer doesn't know how much ink is in each >> partition of the cartridge and is just estimating by the amount of >> total >> use, not that of each color. >> >> Just my observation. >> >> >> >>> >>> On Friday, January 3, 2003, at 02:55 AM, Tony LaFemina wrote: >>> >>> (portions cut out) >>> >>>> In order to correctly monitor a fluid level, there has to be some >>>> kind >>>> of system that can sense the height of the fluid in the cartridge. >>>> Otherwise it's purely guesswork. If they do have an accurate system >>>> that can monitor the ink level, then it shouldn't matter if the >>>> cartridge is removed from the printer or not. Once it's installed, it >>>> should send the printer accurate readings. But Bill said Epson >>>> advised >>>> against this, which tells me their system is based on time. When a >>>> cartridge is installed into the printer, an electronic pulse >>>> initializes the timer for each color. When a color is called upon, >>>> the >>>> timer for that color is started, and stopped when the cartridge stops >>>> emitting the color. Since they know how much ink is in a new >>>> cartridge, they know how much time it will take to empty it. However, >>>> if the cartridge is removed, the timers should reset when you put it >>>> back giving erroneous data. This method should always say there's >>>> more >>>> ink than there actually is. If the system says there's less or no ink >>>> in the cartridge, then I call it spitework and it verifies what I >>>> said >>>> about big business not caring about the environment. >>>> >>> >>> If you read some of the earlier posts, this was explained, but I'll >>> repeat part of it again. Epson electrostatically charges the cartridge >>> when it is inserted. Removing the cartridge and then putting it back >>> wastes ink. Add to that the fact that in early OS-X, printers drivers >>> in general were iffy (for all manufacturers, not just for Epson), and >>> thus remaining ink levels on a re-inserted cartridge were not always >>> reported correctly and you get the advice that Epson that gives out. >>> The situation is vastly improved, and gets better with each update to >>> OS-X, but still is not completely worked out yet. For example if you >>> have certain new HP printers (which can give decent prints) then you >>> are better off using Gimp-print than the native HP drivers, because >>> the >>> HP drivers still have bugs in them which cause them to take over most >>> of the cpu effectively disabling the computer (Still happens even in >>> 10.2.3 Apple and HP are still working on it). The latest update to >>> OS-X >>> went a long way to fixing this, but it is still happening to many >>> people. >>> >>> Back onto the smart chips: all of the manufacturers use them in the >>> new >>> printers. In the older ones they are not there. My guess is that they >>> will stay, but be changed to allow refilling. >>> >>> Jerry >>> >>>> If you guys think your Epsons are good printers, great. But I think >>>> you'll have a rough time convincing Bill of that, unless he resolved >>>> his problem. I imagine I'll eventually be in the same boat as all of >>>> you, but until then, I'll stick with my H-P without the >>>> smart-cartridges. >>>> >>>> Tony >>>> >>>> Jerry Yeager wrote: >>>> >>>>> Well see, there is some humor to be found! Glad you're amused. >>>>> >>>>> But I think you're missing the point(s). On the first one: Many >>>>> state >>>>> and local governments are having to deal with the serious problems >>>>> of >>>>> waste from electronic equipment. Banning it from landfills is one >>>>> option being considered (even here in Louisville, this problem is >>>>> getting serious attention, but don't take my word for it, ask >>>>> around) >>>>> another option is to introduce means to reduce the rate the waste is >>>>> bering generated, hence the proposal to make the ink cartridges >>>>> refillable. The EU (European Union) is really holding HP's toes to >>>>> the fire on this one. >>>>> >>>>> On the second one: hmm before PageMaker was released by Aldus, the >>>>> only option the home folks (and many small businesses) had for >>>>> creating those wonderful masterfully done brochures was to hire a >>>>> graphics design firm. After it came out they didn't have to. The >>>>> rest >>>>> is left as an exercise for the student... (smile) >>>>> >>>>> Jerry >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Thursday, January 2, 2003, at 04:45 PM, Tony LaFemina wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Sorry Jerry, but this thread gets funnier with each e-mail. Let's >>>>>> say, for arguments sake, everything you guys said about the Epson >>>>>> printer and it's cartridges is true, and the government is going to >>>>>> crack down on electronic waste materials. It sounds like an anomaly >>>>>> to me. I can't imagine our government allowing millions of >>>>>> Americans >>>>>> to possible end up with full or partially full ink cartridges that >>>>>> can't be used or discarded, on the off chance they can or will >>>>>> produce near-commercial quality printed images from their home. >>>>>> From >>>>>> where I'm sitting, an empty cartridge contains much less waste than >>>>>> one with ink still in it. But that may be due to my warped sense of >>>>>> understanding. >>>>>> >>>>>> In addition to that, you mention the cost of tossing a sheet of >>>>>> high-quality paper. My brother once sent me a birthday card he made >>>>>> on his computer. He said he had to do it about a dozen times before >>>>>> it came out right. The thing is, he's not an exception to the rule. >>>>>> There's millions of us just like him. Hell! Even a pro has a >>>>>> difficult time getting everything set up right for success on the >>>>>> first try. How many novices are going to spend $10.00 or more on a >>>>>> homemade Christmas card when they could buy one for less than half >>>>>> the price? Now for the good part. What happens to all those sheets >>>>>> of paper (any quality), filled with ink, that ain't quite right? Do >>>>>> we just toss them in the garbage pail, or take them to some >>>>>> collection site for proper disposal? You can answer that question >>>>>> yourself. >>>>>> >>>>>> The way I look at it is, "It's a world gone mad." >>>>>> >>>>>> Tony >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Jerry Yeager wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Well hmm, it is going to get more complicated in a short while I >>>>>>> suspect**, but not for these reasons. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Nowadays, we use the ink jets to produce high resolution photos >>>>>>> that rival those the commercial photography shops produce (I am >>>>>>> not >>>>>>> trying to step on anyone's toes here with these statements). Since >>>>>>> the paper and the ink is expensive, it is not really the same as >>>>>>> throwing out a half-printed page of text that costs about a nickel >>>>>>> to toss; these pages cost many dollars or more to throw out. So >>>>>>> you >>>>>>> want to know before starting a job, if it will finish and finish >>>>>>> correctly. Hence the printer needs to be able to tell you what it >>>>>>> is up to. Thus the smart chip in the printer cartridge. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The ink-jets have what are called smart chips in them to talk to >>>>>>> the computer drivers and tell them various things about how the >>>>>>> printer is doing. The printers by themselves are very >>>>>>> in-expensive. >>>>>>> Selling the cartridges are the way the printer companies make >>>>>>> money >>>>>>> (HP, Epson, all of them are in this. Those smart chips detect when >>>>>>> the cartridge has been refilled and will refuse to work, so the >>>>>>> user has to buy new ones. A few complete refills and you have paid >>>>>>> for a new printer. Really. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Jerry >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ** It is going to get tricky soon due to environmental regulations >>>>>>> that are working to reduce electronic "waste" materials, such as >>>>>>> ink-jet cartridges. In Europe, it is (or soon will be) illegal to >>>>>>> have the smart chips disallow refills. That type of regulation may >>>>>>> soon be in California, then spread here. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Wednesday, January 1, 2003, at 10:24 PM, Tony LaFemina wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Sorry I took so long to respond to this Jerry, but the more you >>>>>>>> guys tell me about Epson printers, the more baffling it gets. I >>>>>>>> don't know why anyone would be concerned about when the printer >>>>>>>> runs out of ink. The worst that could happen is a few sheets of >>>>>>>> paper have to be thrown out if the ink is used up before a run is >>>>>>>> completed. (At least that's what I'm thinking). But, I have a >>>>>>>> sneaking suspicion there's more to it than that. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The thing that bothers me is, if what you say is true, then their >>>>>>>> system for determining fluid levels is probably based on time >>>>>>>> rather than actually measuring fluid levels. If that's the case, >>>>>>>> they'd do better to eliminate the system and reduce the price of >>>>>>>> their printers. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Tony >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Jerry Yeager wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> You can take the cartridges out prematurely, but you generally >>>>>>>>> want to avoid doing that. Epson uses the electromechanical >>>>>>>>> approach to squeezing the ink out. So each time the cartridges >>>>>>>>> are replaced the new ones have to be electrostatic-ally charged. >>>>>>>>> This wastes ink. In addition, with the old versions of OS-X, >>>>>>>>> printer communications were, shall we say a bit tenuous, so >>>>>>>>> sometimes the printer would not report remaining ink levels >>>>>>>>> correctly (this tended to be true with most ink-jet printers), >>>>>>>>> which sometimes would make an old, used cartridge look full when >>>>>>>>> it was on its last legs. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Jerry >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> p.s. If you were using this for photos, check into the 2200. It >>>>>>>>> is really good. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Saturday, December 28, 2002, at 09:44 PM, Tony LaFemina >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Bill Rising wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On 12/28/2002 1:09, Tony LaFemina wrote >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> [snip...] >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> Have you tried replacing the cartridges? >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> I've wanted to avoid that, because epson makes all sorts of >>>>>>>>>>> dire warnings stating that taking a cartridge out makes it >>>>>>>>>>> unusable forever (even if it is still pretty full, as the ones >>>>>>>>>>> in my printer are). So... this'll be the very last step, after >>>>>>>>>>> I've tried everything else. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Bill >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> Thanks for that bit of information Bill. I've only had 2 H-P >>>>>>>>>> printers, and am not used to that kind of stupidity. Are you >>>>>>>>>> allowed to at least wiggle them to maybe try to reseat them? >>>>>>>>>> I'm >>>>>>>>>> not familiar with Epson's setup, but couldn't there be a >>>>>>>>>> condition where the cartridges aren't seated properly? It >>>>>>>>>> sounds >>>>>>>>>> like these guys went out of their way to come up with that one. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I wish you the best. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- Tony LaFemina >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- Tony LaFemina >>>> Major in Layout & Design Techniques >>>> Minor in Software Fundamentals >>>> http://hometown.aol.com/visitmacland/index.html >>>> mailto:remacs at optonline.net >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will >>>> | be January 28. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will >>> | be January 28. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. >>> --- >>> [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Chapel Gold Virus Scan] >>> >>> >> >> --- >> [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Chapel Gold Virus Scan] >> >> >> >> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will >> | be January 28. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. >> >> >> > > > > | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will > | be January 28. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. > > Anne | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will | be January 28. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>.
