Digital BW, The Print

Thanks Paul.
 
I had discussed what I've doing over the last few years with Paul and he
seemed to think I was headed in the right direction. (After a while [lots of
years] it really does get down to some common denominators) I had done quite
brutal accelerated comparative fade testing of my own and The HTv inks
barely budged in about 140 MLH. But until I got the OVI inks to Aardenburg
for independent testing - well, one can say all they want. Frankly I was
holding my breath. The 30MLHs result should be out by late February. I chose
Photorag because I know it's generally excellent and there are a lot of
other tests on Photorag in the database. Plus, I use it a  lot. 
 
Tom Mallonee
Owens Valley Imaging
www.ovimaging.com
760.873.8501
 
Description: OVI_Logo_For_Email.jpg
 
From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Paul
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 9:41 AM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: HTv ink set in test at Aardenburg Imaging &
Archives
 
  
It looks like the OVI ink is doing very well so far in the fade tests.
(Congratulations Tom, if you're monitoring this forum.) I just did a quick
comparison to a recent Epson ABW at the same 20 Mlux-hr stage, and the OVI
ink appears to be doing significantly better. (Then again, I didn't find the
exact same paper.)

At this point there really ought to be no secret as to what makes a
lightfast inkset. First is to use the most carbon that is consistent with
the color/hue you're targeting. While there are probably differences among
different types of carbon pigments, all of them that we usually use seem to
be very good. Second, is that if you're going to tone with a color pigment,
use the best. In that respect, both HP and Epson make or use good color
pigments. Weak color inks used for toning the carbon has been the limiting
factor in most third party B&W inksets. OVI is obviously using a very good
color pigment in its toners.

I suspect the main lightfastness advantage the OVI inkset has over the Epson
ABW is that ABW uses too much color. QTR can take care of that.

However, I think the OVI inkset is better in other respects. Perhaps most
importantly, it uses more carbon positions. ABW has only the 3 neutral inks,
which can be marginal, depending on how good the particular printer is. The
ABW mode probably uses the excess color in part to help smooth the print,
similar to what I have done for the Claria BO printing. If one uses QTR to
eliminate the excess color, however, the limits of the 3 inks may become
apparent. 

I believe the OVI toners also make profiling a bit easier by being blended
to be more closely aligned with Lab A and B. 

At any rate, it's good to see a solid performance from a third party
variable-tone B&W inkset. I was never able to convince MIS to spend the
money to get the top notch color pigments to make a premium MIS B&W
variable-tone inkset. Of course, Eboni-6 holds the high ground still, but
for those who want more control over print tone, this may be a good
solution. (I turned to OEM color pigs for toning my personal work years ago.
See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/4K+.pdf)

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint%40yahoogroups.com> , "Mark" <mark@...>
wrote:
>
> Just a quick note to let Digital BW forum members know that Owens Valley
Imaging, Inc (OVI) recently contracted with AaI&A to test its HTv ink set on
a couple of samples of Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Duo 276 gsm paper. The samples
have reached the 20 Megalux hour mark in test, and the reports have now been
added to the AaI&A light fastness database (see ID #s 237 and 238). 
> 
> OVI describes its HTv ink set as " A single, unique archival variable tone
carbon inkset. This inkset is for matte/rag printing and uses six pure
carbon inks from black to very light gray plus two very stable low-gamut
pigments in smalls amount to control print color". I cannot personally speak
to pricing, availability, or printer reliability issues as I have not
personally printed with these inks, but the hue and tonality of the samples
I received for testing look really good. This ink set may therefore be of
interest to end-users looking to try third party multi-shade monochrome ink
sets. The link to the OVI website is:
> 
> http://www.ovimaging.com/inks.html 
> 
> cheers,
> Mark
> http/www.aardenburg-imaging.com
>



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