Digital BW, The Print

on 9/14/01 2:38 AM, Robert Morrison wrote:

> Jon has stated time and time again that there is no dye in the piezoBW
> product as it stands.  There are numerous posts to this effect. As to
> whether the current product is toned with color pigment...I believe that he
> has been rather silent...but the final color looks like pure carbon black to
> me....pure carbon black pigment is a warm black.

This was Jon's "extended" answer to the question on the Piezo list:

The color inks are 100% pigment.

PiezoBW inks: The black mass is carbon black and there is a trace amount of
dye to balance the neutral "tone".

The upcoming Selenium Quad inks (SE) will be 100% pigment; a new generation
of pigment is being used which has not previously been used as an inkjet
ink.


We have thought about coming out with a more traditional pigmented BW ink
which would incorporate more dye into the mix; supplied to those who wish to
print on glossy materials. But longevity of such an ink would be compromised
in favor of compatibility with more traditional looking photo gloss
materials. Our current BW ink, being a very heavy and concentrated pigment
base is just too dense for gloss materials (and we have had the best minds
in paper development working on alternative gloss technology to no avail...)


Pros and Cons:

Pros of a dye in a pigmented ink, is tinting strength as it reflects back
less white light than pigment - it appears darker or more saturated to the
eye. It allows for customization of a monochromatic ink. If heavy in
presence will allow printing on gloss coatings and allow for greatest paper
compatibility.

Cons of a dye in a pigmented ink:  metamerism, reactions to paper coatings
disproportionate to their presence (i.e the chemical compound of the dye
molecule and the coating mix produce a reaction - this can occur whether
lots of dye or trace dye.)


-- 
Jon Cone