Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> I have my latest version of the VM inkset running on the 7500.  UC 
VM 4.3
> (my terminology) is 100% MIS UC clone inks.  By sticking with a
> carefully-engineered inkset, the banding of my last experimental 
effort is
> gone; there are no signs of any incompatibilities.
> 
> I've been using the 7000 driver with the 7500.  The curves needed 
to control
> the inks appear to be smoother, resulting in very few artifacts 
and smoother
> ramps that I was getting with the native driver.  The printer 
monitor (ink
> levels, etc.) doesn't work, but the driver prints fine anyway.
> 
> The output is not as smooth as a modern desktop hextone printer. 
On very
> close inspection I can see some dots or slightly rough dither.  In 
small
> prints, this might be objectionable.  For display prints it's 
probably
> irrelevant.
> 
> I'm not sure why the 7500 with the 7000 driver is producing 
slightly more
> prominent dots than the 7000 and 9000 do with the MIS VM inkset.  
Factors
> could include the 100% pigment (no dye) composition of the UC VM 
4.3 inkset.
> I suspect the small amount of dye that appears to be in the older 
inkset
> could have softened the edges of those dots.  Also, the VM 4.3 
base gray ink
> (mostly MIS 7600 Light Black) is warmer.  As such, the color 
contrast
> between the toner and the base gray ink is greater.  Finally, it 
could be
> that the 7500 uses an increased head voltage that pumps out more 
ink per
> dot, making each dot darker.
> 
> If the last factor is the source, for display prints I'd opt for 
the 7500
> due to its better blacks, even if it is a bit rougher than the 
7000.  I'm
> getting 1.68 on new EEM with MIS 7600 matte black (like Museum 
black) versus
> 1.59 for the 9000 MIS VM-k on old EAM.  (This would be even lower 
with new
> EEM.)  The 7000 and 9000s I wrote curves for always had weaker 
blacks than
> the desktop units.  This 7500, however, is right up there with the 
3000 in
> terms of good blacks.
> 
> I might add that UC VM 4.3 is balanced to give a print that 
matches the
> lightly-selenium-toned silver print with the "nc" curve.  It's 
virtually
> identical to the PiezoTone Selenium.  On the warm side, it's twice 
as warm
> as the old MIS VM.  The tone matches the albumen prints (good 
reproductions
> I was able to buy from the Getty) of Gustave Le Gray, although the
> saturation of the UC VM 4.3 warm is half that of the old albumen 
prints.  It
> cannot reach to full sepia warmth.
> 
> So, for display prints, I think this combination -- 7500 & UC VM 
4.3 --
> makes a good match.  For small prints, keep your modern desktop 
hextone
> printer.
> 
> I assume MIS will mix the UC VM 4.3, but that is their decision.  
I'm not
> sure what name they will assign to it.
> 
> Paul
> http://www.PaulRoark.com