Digital BW, The Print

Robert,

>...  So from your experience the black
>ink is the only problem with the quads on
>semi-gloss/luster finish papers?

No, all the inks have to be RC paper-compatible.  The older pigmented quad
inksets just don't work well on RC paper.

With the new inksets I'm currently experimenting with, all the midtones,
including the VM toner, are RC-compatible.  (For the variable-tone inkset
I'm using MIS's UltraChrome clones, which have a nice, warm, pure carbon
light black; for the Piezo-compatible one I'm using Epson Archival black
pigment.)  However, just like the UltraChrome situation, there is just no
black that is good for both RC and matte papers.  So, we have to play the
black ink switching game, which is too bad.

> ... I've worked for sometime with a CIS for grays and
>then using a single cart for the black in the 1280...

That could be an interesting way to go with these.

I really don't think I'll be using RC papers, but I know some like them, and
the dmax is significant.  The Epson Archival black on Premium Luster hits
2.2 in the 7500 and 2.0 in the 1160.

My main interest in the Epson Archival inks, however, has almost nothing to
do with RC papers -- it's their extremely good longevity rating.  I think
encapsulating the carbon is a major advance, which is also one reason I was
and remain interested in coating.  With our post-printing coatings, however,
I'm inclined to think the coating is not getting around the pigment
particles.  Unfortunately, I have not yet figured out any (affordable) way
to test it.  These crude light-box faders keep the pigments moisture-free
just from the heat of the lamp -- not a viable way to test for the
effectiveness of coatings.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com