Digital BW, The Print

The Vivera "72" dye inkset for the HP DesignJet T1100 may be an interesting commercially available set for high gloss, non-archival printing -- an alternative to the Noritsu (Claria) inputs I have been using. (see http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/BW-Dye.pdf )

Significantly, this HP inkset uses a gray.  So, no mixing would be needed to use it.  And, the gray and PK are available in 130 ml carts.

See http://h10088.www1.hp.com/gap/Data/en/t_series_image_quality.pdf

The prices at Atlex are not bad for commercial ink -- 130 ml/$55.  

See  http://www.atlex.com/hp_designjet/t1100.htm 

I'm not sure which smaller printer uses the gray ink with smaller carts for testing.  The HP 59 may be the same.  It's $24 for 17 ml.  See http://www.atlex.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=C9359AN 


The commercially available gray opens this dye printing up to a lot more people than my user-mixed Noritsu gray/LK.  A single LK and PK in the 1400 (or any 1.5 pl printer) can make outstanding glossy prints.  

The bottom line question for me in this exploration of dyes is how to make the most striking B&W cards and brochures.  Right now the Noritsu dyes I'm using hold that position.  I don't consider this a "fine art" or "archival" inkset or medium -- just great looking output.  On the other hand, it would be nice to have cards, etc. that don't turn green or brown in a few months of display.

Frankly, I would think the major attraction of the HP set for most is that the gray is pre-mixed and commercially available. 

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com