Digital BW, The Print

Jim,

You wrote:

>... With a CFS and MIS VM ink in an 1280.

>In the first 4-6 weeks of usage I did not notice these problems, nor
>did I have them when using individual non tubing carts for 6 months
>prior to CFS install. Now at 10 weeks things seem to be happening but
>I would like others to verify. And my test samples are only 20 hours
>dry yet, so drawing conclusions is premature:

>1) 7-10 fold increase in frequency of cleaning cycles needed to get a
>good nozzle check every 12 hours.

Given your location and experience, I'm surprised you use a continuous feed
system at all.  I no longer do.  They clearly have more places where there
could be trouble.

>2) Visible ink caking inside K bottle and a little in C bottle.

The K has the highest ink load and uses a more volatile solvent.  If you
have used the standard MIS Archival K (not as black), does it have fewer
problems?

The C has the next highest loading.

>3)..."leopard spots" ... Within a few minutes to an hour,
>all but the 100%k, possibly 95%k steps look nearly normal- spots fade away.
...

Sounds like drying I've seen on other papers.  I don't know why it changes.
Perhaps humidity?  Perhaps the more volatile carriers have evaporated
through the tubing, leaving a carrier with a different characteristic?

>...mottling at 100%k is more pronounced on both fresh samples,

More solvent would mean more evaporation and more change of characteristics.
???

I wonder if the UltraChrome black would work for you there.  I think Epson
has done the most to get the inks to behave themselves in lots of different
environments.  I hear that the UC-K is not that great on Eclipse, and, of
course, it is more expensive.

Good luck.

Paul