Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Martin Wesley" 
<mwesley250@e...> wrote:
> This leads me to wonder what you could do with a duo-ink 
system. Use 
> the black and a 50% dilution of the black.

In commercial offset printing, there is a technique known as 
"double-dot black" printing. I did a poster in that method years 
ago. I don't know any of the details about it, but my guess is that 
it's a "budget" way to pump up the richness of the blacks, while 
still running one color of black only. (If I'm wrong, someone 
correct me here). So this would be similar to what you're 
suggesting.

I just shot a calendar this week for a liquor company. They're 
known to print only b/w in their ads, and I mean one hit of black 
only. The designer is nudging them to try to get them to at least 
spring for a double-dot black, to add as much depth as possible.

Also in commercial printing, there is general acceptance that you 
get more richness if you print at least a duotone, a tritone, or 
even CMYK-neutral to get the most richness out of a B/W image. 
It makes sense, since you're stacking up all those layers of ink. 
But wasn't it pretty stunning to see what just ONE hit of black-only 
could do with the Epson? I totally agree with you about the look of 
a "B/W photograph". I wish there was a way to run the Black 
channel at full strength, but then be able to back down all the 
other five inks in my 7000 to about quarter-strength, to add some 
richness, but also to eliminate that pesky color crossover.

-http://marktucker.com