Digital BW, The Print

"danielxshea" <danielxshea@...> wrote:
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> Well I'm a little confused about how many shades of carts there are in the EB6 set.

There are 6 dilutions, including the 100% MK.  The LK (18%) is used in both the M and LK positions.  In K3 printers, which have a higher gray substitution, the LLK and LK use the 9% and 30% dilutions (Eb6-LC and C).



> The Eboni set of 4 oz bottles and empty carts would be an inexpensive experiment. 


Carbon-6 is Eboni diluted with a user mixed base.  It's very cheap and what I use in my 7800.  The results of it and Eboni-6 are the essentially the same.  (The generic base is more compatible with other inks but has no biocides, which might be good or bad depending on the conditions and personal preferences.  I've never seen a problem.)  Those who want to mix get lower ink costs.  Those who don't want to mix pay MIS to do it for them.  



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> On the other hand, Cone inks seem expensive and less flexible in that it looks like you have to pick your b&w tone and surface before the fact.

Well, Eboni-6 is a matte only, slight to medium warm monotone inkset.  It's not very flexible.  That's why I now have "Eboni-4 Plus" in my 1400.  It adds 2 positions of a neutral (usually) glossy compatible ink that allows neutral and glossy printing.  See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/Eboni-4-Plus.pdf  This is a relatively early draft, but I think you'll get the idea.  With my 7800, I use 5 positions of Eboni(Carbon)-6 and 3 of another ink.  Currently I have MIS warm carbons in there for sepia tone printing on glossy paper.  

Previously I had HP PK + Lk and LLK (mixed with the generic base) for neutral matte and glossy printing.  HP Z3100 PK is the best neutralized carbon I've found.  It's tonal stability in Aardenburg testing is just amazing.  HP really did its homework.  It dilutes very well with the generic base, thus resulting in a total inkset cost that is down with third party bulk prices.  I'm big on getting the best for the least.  (I.e., I'm cheap.)

 
> On the other other hand, I just did my first 4900 Epson driver b&w print on Moab Colorado Satine and see no color cast with my old eyes.


Most people these days just stick with the OEM inks and ABW type workflows.  We can do better (image and longevity) for less money, but most don't care about the differences. It appears the ABW works best with OEM inks. I've heard that MIS inks with their warmer carbon LK and LLK, and maybe colors that are not quite equal to the OEM colors results in un-even tones from light to dark.  Also, frankly, the OEM inks are all I'd trust for longevity over the long haul.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com