Digital BW, The Print

Jerry,

>... about to load a regular set of VM inks with the Eboni Black
>into my new CIS tomorrow.
>What is the difference between the 5 gray MIS VM inks and the
>5 gray Ultratone inks?

The inks are totally new, but with the same densities.  So, they'll work
with the same old curves.  The new gray inks are a bit warmer.

> What are the advantages of the ultratones?
>I understand the Ultratones are more archival,

Yes.  And there will be no initial warming that many noticed with the first
generation of B&W inksets.

> but give about the same quality prints?

I think the tone is better and the useful range greater.  The toner this
time is mixed to give a "lightly-selenium-toned" silver print look with the
"nc" curve.  Since there is no warming, I did not build in any coolness to
offset that.

For many the RC compatibility is going to be a big plus.  I have no doubt
that the paper/chemical industries will figure out how to make a surface
that duplicates the "air dried silver print" look so many of us found to be
about the best there is.  Also, the chemical industry has proved itself very
capable of producing substances that never deteriorate in the environment.
So, I expect archival RC papers soon.

>There are just too many inks out there now.

If I were MIS, not only would the VM/FS black disappear, but so would the
MIS VM inkset.

> The piezotone selenium inkset and the
>black black sure do look nice...

If you like PiezoTone Selenium, you'll like the new Ultra-Tone B&W with the
"nc" curve.  It looks almost identical to the PT-S on EAM.

>Wonder how they'd look with the Eboni
>black replacing the "black black"?

I expect the "black black" is darker than the Eboni.  However, I don't know
in real images that are not side-by-side how much it matters.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com