Digital BW, The Print

Bill,

You wrote:

>...are you concluding that the new MIS high-load matte black
>was just about as good as any black on the market as far as
>permanence and d-max are concerned?

Yes.  In my latest test, 2 test strips each of PiezoTone Museum K and MIS
matte black showed no decrease in their 1.68 dmax (black-only printing,
1160).  Epson UC Matte black actually increased from 1.71 to 1.73.  Epson
Archival black stayed at 1.53.  Of these, only Museum and MIS matte black
also showed no decrease in thier 50% patch densities.

I don't think simple light-box tests can measure the alleged benefits of the
Epson encapsulation -- if there really are any.  (I think it might be worth
Cone and MIS's $ to have RIT test whether the Epson's encapsulation is just
marketing hype.)

>If that is so, do you have any comments about the metameristic
>qualities of the new ink?

I see no significant metamerism.

>and, finally, did I hear you correctly that this ink could be
>substituted  for the current  black on the VM set?

That is, obviously, MIS's decision.  I think you might see the new ink
offered as the matte black for all MIS inksets.  I do have a question about
whether high-load inks (these and Epson Matte black) print as smoothly as
FS/VM black.  Also, note that FS/VM black held up well at the 100% patch
also, but it lost 0.08 units at 50% -- a big difference.


Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com