Digital BW, The Print

> We have long known that carbon pigment inks warm even in the absence of
> light. It is probably an oxidation reaction and this is may be the advantage
> of the Epson encapsulated inks.

Martin,

I have just looked at an EAM and a German Etching print of the same image 
which were kept in the dark. The "browning" out did not happen. These were 
letter size proofs of work in progress, with similar "black" areas, printed at the 
same time as the big prints. I believe the reaction of the black Piezotone ink is 
related to exposure to light and possibly air. The dark-stored prints were also 
kept in a plastic bag (the kind that comes with EAM).

I have a 2200 on order and am looking forward to using it with the ImagePrint 
driver when released. Then I can compare the encapsulated inks directly with 
the quads.



> 
> Paul sent me some scans of wedges Robert printed with the PT-K replaced 
with
> the FS-K which looked pretty good, although it is hard to tell from scans of
> wedges. I hope to hand load some cartridges next week and see how it 
looks.
> I was willing to stay with the existing Sel-PT and take my chances because I
> like the look so much but this abrupt failure gives me second thoughts.

According to Robert, FS-K works well with EAM and Hahnemuhle, but Museo 
likes the MIS-DD black. This as far as dmax goes - fades are another story.  
Incidentally, I printed some grayscales using each individual ink/nozzle to 
print the whole scale. I did this with WT-PT and the color of the black is very 
startling next to the grays. Looks like a whole other animal. Who knows what 
kind of thinking is behind using this same black for all flavors of PT. Looks to 
me like they needed the money before they finished the R&D....


> 
> BTW, what were the temperatures where the prints were stored while you 
were
> gone? Robert and I have theorized that Paul's fader which has lower light
> levels than the commercial faders but much higher temperatures is 
revealing
> flaws not seen in say RIT testing where there is strict temperature control.

This is a room that warms up in the late afternoon, as all Spanish-style houses 
do in Southern Cal., but we enjoy relatively low humidity. In any case, I don't 
think there were any particular extremes during July and August that would 
cause unusual degradation. This isn't an attic or a basement, just your basic 
living room.

So, as long as we keep our prints carefully sealed in bags in a dark drawer, 
all is well with the PiezoTones!!

But seriously, have you left any PT prints with lots of black, printed on 
Hahnemuhle papers out in the air and light (for longer that 2 months)?


Antonis