Digital BW, The Print

I'm pleased to report that the variable-tone dye inkset I tested in the Epson 220 (http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/N-BW-VT-1-220.pdf), modified somewhat, appears to work very well in the Epson 4000.

I will post my progress at 
http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/4000-Noritsu-BW-Variable-Tone.pdf

At the moment, the PDF simply has the inkset formula.

Basically, it's a variable-tone B&W inkset with LK and LLK versions of Noritsu K in the Cyan channel, and toned LK and LLK in the M channel.  The amount of toning is 25% M to 75% K.  This allows easy 1:3 mixing with syringes.  Likewise, the Lk and LLk are 1:2, also allowing easy syringe mixing.  No scales are needed for this.  I mix the base a liter at a time, so it's also easy with no scales needed.  (I recommend wearing gloves.  This dye stains hands even worse than pigments.)

The 4000's Yellow cart/channel has Noritsu yellow in it.  This makes the inkset a 3-D inkset, allowing very warm as well as cool printing.  The yellow will also allow OBA control. I've found it very useful in making the borders (using borderless printing) look like natural paper.  This gives the effect of a mat board, but without the cost or hassle of mats, or glazing for that matter.  The OBA control allows one to guide the eye into the image instead of having a too-bright border pull the eye out of the image.  It's very effective.

Although with the 1400 I came to prefer a non-blended inkset, with the 4000 I've gone back to blending/mixing the K and M inks.  The main reason is that I need the Epson driver to be able to print with multiple profiles (PS curves) by selection area.  Additionally, the larger drops of the 4000 (relative to the 1400) would be more likely to show some dots if a bright "LM" were used.

At any rate, it's working, and it should work similarly for other wider format Epson printers. 

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com