Digital BW, The Print

Ok, you all know I am a confirmed sceptic.. In fact, some say I built 
Diogenes' bathtub for him... But I am also a fan of a product that does 
one thing well instead of doing 800 things all at compromised levels..

My initial look at the Lyson Small Gamut inks used in a 1280 leaves me 
quite impressed.  I've easily done prints from Sepia to Neutral  to faux 
Cyanotype...  For people like me who had a history of using toners and 
dyes with traditional silver gelatine prints, this inkset is manna from 
heaven..  

Yes it's a dye based inkset, but that doesn't change my initial review. 
 Figures of 25-100 years (minimum) for a print are fine with me.  When 
used in a 1280 this dyeset gives prints clearly equal to the vast 
majority of my old hand toned silver gelatine images; with the added 
advantages of: full impact "toning" even on Glossy/RC media and the 
ability to split-tone or selectively tone at will!!

They also work GREAT with my RGB Quadtone curves.. (Shameless plug)

As for metamerism, yes, there is a tad.  BUT, it is neither displeasing 
nor obvious.  It looks like Lyson did a nice job of ensuring that the 
metameristic qualities of each dye color ends up being complementary -- 
what small difference is exhibited under different light sources is 
easily and generally automatically compensated for by most viewers' 
minds.  The prints look great under tungsten, fluorescent, and daylight..

You will have to wait for my articles' appearances to get a complete 
rundown on all this and see some sample images...  But for now I am elated.

I have the 1270 and MIS VM when I want pigmented prints or can do 
without glossies, and the 1280 with the Lyson Small Gamut for glossies 
and greater expressive range.  Now all I need to do is look at those Gen 
5s and Lyson Fotonics in the Canon S9000... When that is done, I will 
have my digital darkroom complete for the moment. Suffice it to say that 
a "little" research beforehand has gone a LONG way into getting here...

To all those who provided me info, tips, etc., whether directly or 
through your contributions to this list,  along the way, I offer a 
sincere thank-you.  


Keith



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