Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul" <roark.paul@...> wrote:
SNIP 
> 
> Yes, they are water soluble, after all.  Actually, it might be interesting to see if once dried I can re-dissolve the Noritsu-Epson product. (Dare I say "bulk Claria"?  I suspect Epson would object to that.  See the black Lab A & B comparison at
> http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/Noritsu-Claria-BO-Lab.jpg)

Many Microporous coatings impart a water resistant quality for the printed image,so the dye ink should not run very much if at all when put under water. 

The life of "black only" dyes (not mixed with another color) should be quite good. The informal southwindow testing Allen Maertz did with Ilford Black dyes 9 years ago, he called practically "bullet proof". When dyes are mixed (like on an ink jet print with mixed colors) is when the catalytic interaction occurs, and print life is severely reduced. This is why swellable polymer inkjet receptor papers give the longest print life using 4 color dyes. (by isolating the dyes from one another) This is also why high humidity conditions reduce print life on these papers. (due to dye migration)
  
> For most of the cards and other output I have in mind for the Noritsu inks, I'm not that concerned with longevity.  I expect it to be good enough. However, for someone who wants to have only a single printer set up for B&W with the dyes, some of these sprays or coatings for those images that are intended for long term display are archiving might be important.  So, I'm going to explore them more.

I have some 4-color dye prints, microporous done from 10 years ago under glass, indoor conditions look quite good, with no noticeable fade. But same prints, same ink without glass protection showed visible fading within a few months. 

My best guess is that micro-porous papers allows the oxidizing atmospheric agents easy access to fade the dyes or pigments. (remember the orange fade problem of Epson 1280 prints due to ozone?)

 
> > An ideal inkjet receptor would be one of the swellable polymer base, that swells on initial contact with water, and then remains water impervious after that, providing protection against airborne contaminants.
> 
> If they work, are available, and otherwise good looking papers, there might be a market for such.  I didn't like the few I looked at when they were first introduced, but then I was not into dyes at the time.  I must say I'm having lots of fun with the Red River Metallic at the moment.

Paul, there are no such papers as I describe above available. Only swellable polymer (Ilford Classic papers). Again, for BO printing, I don't think this kind of inkjet receptor coating is necessary, if you in some way seal the paper against airborne oxidizing agents. 

John Nollendorfs