Digital BW, The Print

I have sent to MIS a slightly revised toner mix that optimizes the UC VM 4.3
tones across many of the papers that I think will be used in the near
future.  The only differences from VM 4.3 are minor changes in the toner to
get a better tone distribution across more papers.

The target tone is a mild "selenium-neutral."  The X-Rite spectrophotometer
readings in the mid-tone for the "selenium silver print" look should be C =
X, M = X+1, Y = X.

(Note that there will be density variations among different papers, as
usual.)

The X-Rite readings at the 50% patches of test strips printed with UC VM
4.3.5 are below.  These are after a day of "curing," although most reach
this tone in a short time.  I used the 1160 and standard vm 1160 "nc" curve,
except for Eclipse, which prints colder than the other papers. (The decimal
point has been omitted in these readings.  The readings are in the order C,
M, Y.)

	EAM/EEM - 64, 65, 64

	Epson UltraSmooth - 60, 61, 60

		(This paper will probably take a very large
		 part of the cotton paper market.)

	PhotoRag - 59, 61, 61

	Epson Premium Luster - 58, 58, 58

	Epson Photo Paper - 65, 66, 66

	Ilford Smooth Gloss - 59, 59, 58

		(This and the Pearl versions are
		reasonably-priced, no-bronze sleepers.)

	Museo - 55, 55, 55

		(Crane is in trouble if it can't do better.
		Epson Smooth Fine Art is the same.)

	Eclipse Satine Bright White ("mw" curve) - 56, 58, 56

		(Has anyone purchased the formula
		out of bankruptcy?  If UltraSmooth is priced
		low, Eclipse is dead meat anyway.)

My fade test results of 4.3 was as good as it gets.  The "nc" curve, EEM 50%
patch was 61, 61, 60, 61 (c, m, y, visual order) at the start and 61, 61,
61, 61 after 300 hours.  The warm curve had the same pattern -- no visual
fade and 0.01 unit of yellowing.  I'm told carbon always warms slightly, and
this is about the minimum I've seen in any carbon inkset.  It's totally
acceptable and many times better than any of the older quad inksets.

I've had not clogging with these inks, but I'm not in a super-dry or
high-elevation climate.

So, I'd say this makes a state-of-the-art variable-mix/tone inkset that is
both matte and RC paper compatible, depending on which black ink is used.
All of the existing vm curves should work fairly well, but I have not tested
them.  I'd assume MIS will soon market the inkset, but I don't know what
name they'll use or when it will be on their website.

I hope it works for you.

Paul