Digital BW, The Print

I just sprayed a step wedge printed with MIS FS-N inks and Brightcube
Semi-Matte that I printed last night with Krylon...here are the results:


Uncoated dmax  1.88

Coat 1 (light)  1.88 dmax--still a slight smear after 30 seconds of drying
Coat 2 (light) 1.88 dmax--no smear after 30 seconds of drying

At this point, you can't tell that the print was sprayed, the surface
appears identical to the uncoated print...although what little bronzing
there was is gone.

Coat 3 (heavy)-- I really soaked the paper--let dry for about 5
minutes--2.22 dmax--the surface of the paper is now what I would call
pebbled.  The print now looks like a gloss print with just a hint of
texture...in other words its not completely smooth...but it isn't a pearl
surface anymore.  The surface is not unpleasant...and you don't see it if
you don't tilt to get glare.  It is slightly more noticeable over
black...but I don't think it is more pebbled there...it just picks up more
glare because of the tone.

This print is really beautiful...probably like nothing you have ever seen
coming from pigmented inks...get some Luster paper, some Krylon and give it
a try.  The Luster (Epson, Lumijet, or Brightcube Semi-Matte) are much
easier to coat well than the old Kodak Ultima Satin that many of you may
have tried...and none of them show reticulation with the Piezo and MIS inks.
Who knows how they will fade...but for a portfolio...this can't be beat!

Robert

On 4/27/02 8:14 AM, "Robert Morrison" <rmorrison@...> wrote:

> You can get it at almost any art supply store....Utrecht, Pearl...my guess
> is that Flax, Dick Blick, etc. also have it.  It's possible that even some
> office supply stores (Staples, Office Depot) might have it.  I just bought
> some at Utrecht...it was $5.29 a can.  I might add that the cans are full
> size spray cans...not the tiny ones that the "Ink Jet Sprays" use and charge
> you $10 to $15 for.  None of these sprays that I have seen work as well.  I
> went to Utrecht this week and bought 3 other cans of competitive sprays.
> I'm going to spray Brightcube Semi-Matte step wedges made with MIS FS-N inks
> with each of them and stick them outside to see if their is any
> fading/yellowing difference and will report back.
> 
> Antonis's initial lower dmax was most likely caused if he used the Cone
> Premium Luster Profile...it doesn't put down as much ink as the Epson Photo
> Paper Profile that I used.  I'm not sure what to say about Antonis's high
> dmax...other than I'm going to go over to his place and watch him spray.  I
> do four quick coats with about 30 seconds between coats.  There will
> definitely be differences between papers as to how much you can bump the
> dmax.  Personally, I think I want something I can reproduce easily.  I think
> one light spray...while it won't get the dmax up as high...is probably
> ideal.  It will cure the smear/bronzing issues...and is pretty easy to do.
> When you start putting on heavy coats things tend to get more technique
> dependent.
> 
> AS A REMINDER!!!  Particularly if you are using the Piezo driver!!!!  Head
> alignment is absolutely critical with these papers!!!  Make sure that the
> printhead distance leaver is in the "-" close position.  They do the epson
> printhead alignment.  If it isn't perfect, adjust it and check it again.  I
> printed some semi-matte last night after I had calibrated for EAM.  I got
> micro-banding...when I checked the print head alignment, I had to do a 7,7,7
> adjustment.  Printed again and the print was perfect!  That's how little it
> can be off and still cause a problem.  I think its a little price to pay for
> 2+ dmax, however.
> 
> And on the note of the piezo driver...this is where you will be glade that
> you have it!  The quad RGB curves for the Epson driver that I have been able
> to get are not even close for the gloss papers.  In comparison there are a
> whole bunch to try in the piezo driver.  I screened them all the other day
> and read the step wedges with my spectrophotometer.  None of them were
> perfect for the Brightcube Semi-Matte that I have decided to use...but the
> Epson Premium Glossy Photo profile was close and it produced beautiful
> prints.  I just printed a broad diversity of images last night and they look
> beautiful on this paper.
> 
> Robert
> 
> 
> On 4/27/02 6:16 AM, "Steven Schaefer" <stevenr@...> wrote:
> 
>> where did you get your Krylon?
>> 
>> Steve
>> 
>> antonisphoto wrote:
>>> 
>>> Inspired by Robert Morrison's recent post, I tried to duplicate his
>>> findings on
>>> the Epson Premium Luster paper using piezoBW inks and coating with
>>> Krylon.
>>> 
>>> To my surprise, his coated dmax numbers were.... conservative!
>>> 
>>> In fact, Robert found an uncoated dmax of 1.91, while mine came in at
>>> 1.85.
>>> This establishes a basis for comparing the numbers. Either because of
>>> the
>>> individual printer or the measuring instruments, my number was 0.06
>>> LOWER
>>> than his. So far so good.
>>> 
>>> The surprise was to find that the coated dmax measured a staggering
>>> 2.28 in
>>> my tests. His was 2.11.  That's 0.17 HIGHER, or a 0 .43 increase.  I
>>> suspect
>>> this is largely due to differences in coating procedure. I made a
>>> point of
>>> coating 3 times, with forced-air drying in-between. Otherwise, same
>>> Krylon,
>>> same driver, profile, inks, printer.
>>> 
>>> So, those of you who need deep black, are willing to pay about
>>> 0.50/sheet of
>>> Premium Luster and don't mind spray coating, (or any print-life
>>> issues), pay
>>> attention to how to lay down that Krylon for maximum benefit.
>>> 
>>> Fresh from the "research lab".
>>> 
>>> Antonis Ricos
>>> 
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>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and
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>> 
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> 
> ----------------------
> Robert Morrison
> rmorrison@...
> 
> 310-397-2704
> 
> 4131 Bledsoe Ave.
> Los Angeles, CA 90066
> 
> 
> 
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and other
> resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:
> 
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
> 
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - Include your full name with your message.
> - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep
> them short.
> - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject header.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or "flames."
> - Complete your Yahoo profile.
> - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the various
> resources on the homepage.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> 
> 

----------------------
Robert Morrison
rmorrison@...

310-397-2704

4131 Bledsoe Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066