Digital BW, The Print

Miguel,

You wrote:

>I will certainly try the EAM paper.

Martin reminded me that it is now called "Enhanced Matte."  As far as I know
this is the same paper, but I have not yet tried the Epson Enhance Matte.
("EEM"?)

>I just wanted to know 2 more things:

>- The new sepia tone inks are compatible with which workflow? (for
>epson 870)

They are a different "flavor" of MIS VM, and use that basic workflow.

The densities of the various inks in the VM-Sepia are the same as the MIS VM
inks, but they are actually all new except for the black.  The base gray is
a neutral/cool gray -- the same one that is used in the FS-Neutral.  This
gray has the distinct advantage of not warming up nearly as much as the old
warm gray inks.  The new toner, rather than a blue toner to cool the old
warm gray, is a sepia (very warm) toner that warms the otherwise
neutral/cool gray ink.  So, the old curves work, but in reverse of the names
that were assigned to them with the MIS VM inkset.  Also, I've found that
even though the densities are the same, the inkset performs noticeably
better when the curves are specifically tailored to them.

Most noticeable is the old "warm" curve that produces a neutral/cool tone
with the VM-Sepia inkset.  With the existing "warm" curves I often simply
withheld the toner completely until I had to add it to "turn on" the black
ink.  What this does on some machines is cause a noticeable cross-over with
the VM-sepia inkset.  So, with the 1160 and 3000, I found that making a dead
neutral curve that actually does add a little toner through the midtones,
makes a much better print.  In fact, it's about the best, most neutral print
I've seen.

I now have an 870, so I'll be making these modifications to the 870 curves
for the VM-Sepia within the next few weeks.

>- Do you know where I can find those inks or the VM ones around New
>York City?

All MIS inks are ordered from them directly (www.inksupply.com).  I'm not
sure if the VM-Sepia inks are in carts.  I'd guess they are bulk (4 oz.)
only.  The bad news with that is that you have to load cartridges.  The good
news is that it is a lot cheaper to buy inks that way.  Once you know that
you want to stay with a particular inkset, a continuous flow inking system
is the way to go.  That avoids the carts and filling hassles.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com