Digital BW, The Print

Much thanks for the clarification and context.  Martin, could you put this
one in the archives for future reference.  Sorry about any confusion that I
may have generated.  Given this information I'm really looking forward to
seeing the new Piezo ink set.  From what I can gather it will be an
improvement with respect to fading to both the current Piezo and MIS VM
products.  It seems that it would be easy for Paul or others who are
interested in using curves, to use pure pigment blacks (the new Piezo
Selenium Inks) and then tone by using either color piezo or MIS color inks
that we are sure are 100% pigment and contain no dye.  Dye is the enemy
here, folks, there are no commmercially available dyes that are nearly as
inert or lightfast as pure pigments.

Robert


RobertOn 9/14/01 8:27 AM, "Todd Flashner" <tflash@...> wrote:

> 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.)
> 

----------------------
Robert Morrison
rmorrison@...

310-397-2704

4131 Bledsoe Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066