Digital BW, The Print

6. Last week I received the newly forulated MIS Full Spectrum Neutral 
inks. I pulled out the MIS FS (Regular) inks and inserted the 
Neutrals. I ran a couple of 16x20 images as I did not want to first 
purge the ink and then refill the lines. This wastes a lot of ink and 
to service the 7000 and have the waste ink pads changes costs around 
$160.

After the old ink was purged and the new ink was flowing I ran a few 
prints of images I have come to love. I printed these images 
utilizing the ImagePrint 4 and Piezography drivers. The prints were 
almost identical with the exception that the IP4 images had deeper 
blacks (Due to the RIP) and more open shadows(Due to the shadow 
compression in the Piezo Driver).

The tone of the prints (both Piezo driver w/ MIS FS N and IP4 RIP w/ 
MIS FS N) was a lovely graphite gray in color. Placed next to a one 
of my older Piezo (ink) prints, the Piezo print appeared to be VERY 
warm and a bit green. The MIS FS (Regular) print was warmer than the 
MIS FS Neutral print, but not as warm as the old Piezo print. 

I next placed the MIS FS N prints next to a selenium toned silver 
gelatin print by Mark Klett. This print is named "Contemplating 
Murley Point". The print is made on a matt fiber base paper and was 
selenium toned. The new MIS FS N prints made on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 
308 were as close in color as I had seen. I framed one of the prints 
and placed it behind acrylic. I frame all of my collection prints 
behind acrylic to prevent damage to the print in the event of 
breakage and so as not to get a "green" cast from glass.

Side by side, it is impossible to tell these prints apart with 
respect to medium.  That is, without taking the prints out of the 
frames or shining light on an angle to actually discern the papEr 
texture, it is really hard to see that one is not a silver gelatin 
print. Now keep in mind that my idea of the ultimage fine art print 
is a hand crafted platinum/palladium print on Risings Vellum. But, 
since we are trying to get the color of our "Carbon Pigment" prints 
as close as we can, for now this appears to be as good as it gets.

BTW, as a footnote to my comment about MIS inks not clogging my 
printer. The only time I have had to do any cleaning cycles was a few 
weeks ago when the humidity here in S. Florida was in the 20-30% 
range. Every door handle I touched resulted in a static discharge, 
something that we almost never see in this area.

My recommendation is to try these inks. I have no vested interest in 
MIS, IJM or any other company except my own architectural firm. I 
just want a reliable, stable medium to make my prints the best that 
they can be. For me, Hahnemuhle papers, and MIS inks are the key. 
Keep in mind that with the way this technology is changing, in 15 
minutes everything I have written here will be obsolete.

My best to everyone.

Mike

Michael J. Kravit
Architect/Photgrapher
Boca Raton, Florida