Digital BW, The Print

I re-ran this fade test to be sure the first one was representative.  In the
first test, the sample came from a 3rd party.  The new sample came from M&M,
an apparent distributor of Indelible inks.  As before, the tests were on
Epson Archival Matte.

I see no evidence that the first test was not representative of Indelible
black ink.  The results of the second test at 100 hours are consistent with
the results of the first test.

The bottom line results of the current 100 hour fade test are that Indelible
K fades and warms more than MIS VM K.  The Indelible K has characteristics
closer to Generations Enhanced black than to MIS VM or FS black ink.

A scan of the test strips is in the files section of the forum.  The Files
section is at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/

Then go to > "Inksets, reviews and techniques" and see image
"Fade-Test-100Hr-Indelible(M&M)-K.jpg.

The specific X-Rite densitometer readings for 100% black depth and fade
(100% visual density before and after 100 hours of exposure to the bright
florescent light) and midtone warming (change in 70% cyan-yellow difference)
for the current test are as follows:

100 % Black:

Indelible 100% control visual density  = 1.76;
Indelible 100% 100 Hr. fade v. density = 1.74;
	Fade =  0.02;

MIS VM K  100% control visual density  = 1.69;
MIS VM K  100% 100 Hr. fade v. density = 1.68;
	Fade 0.01;

Gen Enhanced K 100% control v. density = 1.81;
Gen Enh. K 100% 100 Hr fade v. density = 1.79;
	Fade 0.02.

70% (X-Rite readings for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, & Visual):

(Included below is a calculation of what I think is the best measure of
"warming" of the print -- which I think is a serious issue with quads.
Warming involves a tone change caused by the relative increase in red
[reduction in cyan] and reduction of blue [increase in yellow].  To
calculate this relative warming, I compare the cyan and yellow readings of
the contol and faded test strips.  Warming tends to happend quickest at
first, stablilizing after about 300 hours.  Relative performance at 100
hours generally is an accurate predictor of relative performance at 300
hours and on as long as I've done these tests.)

Indelible K @ 70% Control:  0.70, 0.68, 0.68, 0.69;
Indelible K @ 70% 100 Hr:   0.66, 0.66, 0.68, 0.66;
	Warming = change is cyan-yellow readings
			= (.7-.68)-(.66-.68)
			= 0.04
	Fade = (visual density change) = 0.03.

MIS VM K @ 70% Control:  0.57, 0.57, 0.58, 0.57;
MIS VM K @ 70% 100 Hr:   0.56, 0.57, 0.58, 0.57;
	Warming = (.57-.58)-(.56-.58)
			= 0.01
	Fade = 0 (no measurable change in visual density)

Gen Enhanced K @ 70% Control:  0.73, 0.70, 0.71, 0.72;
Gen Enhanced K @ 70% 100 Hr:   0.68, 0.68, 0.71, 0.68;
	Warming = (.73-.71)-(.68-.71)
			= 0.05
	Fade = 0.04.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com