Digital BW, The Print

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Sintchak" <richard@...>
To: "akivisuals" <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 20, 2002 3:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Mixing MIS-FS & FSN inks...


(snip)

> I did get my new CFS with FS-N inks up and running yesterday so I can
> comment (subjectively) on my recent direct experience of using the FS
> and FS-N inks. To me the FS-N is not as cool as I thought it would be.
> I would say that the FS-N is not as cool as the FS is warm (which is
> the way it is supposed to be). Side by side one can definitely see the
> difference and comparing this way the FS-N does look slightly cool.
> However when viewed separately it's a different story. In the FS one
> alone one can see some warmth. Not a lot, but definite warmth. I like
> warmth but to me if a print is going to be warm it should not be
> subtly warm but should be definitely warm, perhaps even starting to
> look sepia. The FS-N when viewed alone one cannot really see the
> coolness. It simply looks neutral. If you are used to viewing warm
> prints, or particularly like warmer prints, than you might think the
> FS-N looks cool but the coolness is not something that is easily seen
> like the warmth of FS is. My first day opinion is that I like the FS-N
> very much, nice and neutral. But I can also see where the FS warmth
> might work better in some circumstances. But with the FS-N it's less
> warmth and more neutral that I wanted and that's exactly what I got.

Richard,

This is always the tough part with the inks, as they get closer and closer
to a true neutral. We all seem to actually see them differently as well as
the fact that personal taste is the deciding factor. I believe that at the
neutral point minute changes in hue can be seen that in a color print would
be undetectable. On top of that there appears to be a significant difference
between the eyes of any two people as to how they perceive color. We both
might look at the same red stop sign and agree it is red but in looking at
near neutral prints with a touch of red in the ink one of us might see it
and one of us might not. In the end everyone has to look this stuff for
themselves and make their own decisions as to what appeals to them.

You are absolutely right about the difference in viewing prints from
different ink sets side-by-side vs. viewing them by themselves. Small
differences that leap out when they are next to each other vanish when all
you see is the single ink set. Probably what makes a difference for me is
that my viewing station just happens to be on a wall with my silver prints.
I am not looking for a match but I am looking for something that seems to be
in the same family.

I have to say though that personally the FS-N has a blue cast to my eye. But
that is my eye which admittedly may not be representative to human eyes in
general. Plus my taste is often a bit off from what most people like.
>
> As I mentioned I considered mixing also since I have two sets of 4 oz
> bottles of FS and FS-N. But in the end decided to go straight on the
> FS-N if only for the purposed of establishing a benchmark in my eye
> and mind of what FS-N looks like as a "stock" ink. This adds better to
> my knowledge base of digital inks rather than doing a mix and not
> knowing whether I have successfully warmed up the FS-N results or not
> since I'd have no idea what FS-N looked like if I did not see it first
> for myself. I can see how perhaps you want to find that perfect
> combination straight off but I think as a newbie if you start right
> off mixing inks you'll only confuse yourself. Just my 2 cents....

I agree completely. Before anyone gets involved in ink blending or
substitutions, try the existing ink sets. First of all there is no point in
going off experimenting if you are satisfied with one of the ready mixed
sets and I think most people will be. If none of the ready mixed ones are to
your taste and you do want to experiment, then, as you rightly point out,
you need to know what the pure ink sets look like before you begin your
trials. That is how I started. First with FS-S and then with FS-N before
trying the blends. All the trials were done by loading cartridges. Trying to
experiment with blends directly in a CIS would be way too costly.

Martin