I've missed an obvious test here regarding B&W - how does a B&W print outputted using the Advanced B&W Mode compare to a B&W print outputted using the Color mode. Is there any difference?

Of course there's all the toning and additional options in B&W Advanced mode and ability to convert a color file on the fly to B&W - but I'm sending a B&W print through both modes as is, just to see what happens - on Epson PSPP, using the Epson profile.

To add to the comparison I also printed the same image on the same paper on the 2100 using the Epson profile.

Results: The 2100 B&W isn't too bad IF you can find the light it happens to look close to neutral in. Metamerism is chronic on PSPP, I forgot how bad! Ignore bronzing and metamerism and the 2100 B&W doesn't look terrible beside either B&W print from the 4800.

The 4800 prints are cleaner, richer, smoother vs the 2100 print, which is murky and harsh by comparison - but not an enormous amount. Gloss differential is worse on the 2100 print. Overall, much closer than I expected (ignoring bronzing and metamerism). Out of the 4800 prints the 2100 print is closest to the 4800 Advanced B&W.

The 4800 prints using Advanced B&W and Color mode are surprisingly close. Both are very neutral. I haven't noticed any metamerism but need to test this more tomorrow. Both are definitely acceptable, saleable B&W prints IMO. The print made using Advanced B&W looks slightly harsher and has more density, like it was printed on a slightly harder grade of paper - but not by much.

All prints were done at 1440 - the 4800's are noticably sharper than the 2100. Not a huge amount but noticeable.

I'm surprised in a way - for an unknown reason I expected the Color mode print to be somehow fall short of the Advanced B&W, but if I had to pick a favorite, I'd go for the Color mode print - very subjective, and not by a great margin.

Summary:

- 4800 vs 2100: 4800 wins. Neutrality, Blacks, Metamerism, Bronzing, Gloss Differential. Aside from the problems, not by as big a margin as I expected.

- Advanced B&W vs Color: Both very good, very similar, neutral, saleable. Color has smoother, softer tones. Color mode by a whisker if that's your thing.

As a side note, I repeated this test on Velvety using Epson Luster profile (sans the 2100), with the same results.

More testing to be done re metamerism. Maybe the Color mode print will shift a little? Don't know yet.