Digital BW, The Print

><paul.roark@v...> wrote:
>> ...
>> I thought the green tint/metamerism was coming from the
>>Epson UC color inks that are in the "B&W" 2100/2200 prints. ...

Colin wrote:

>... the green hue I am
>seeing in daylight is from the Ultrachrome photo black ink only,
>as I am printing in black only mode.

That is what confused me.  I have not heard of or seen the green in the UC
black.  However, for me, with the Ultra Tone inkset the black is just the
very dark end of the ramp.

I tried a black-only Epson PK on Premium Luster and Ilford Smooth Glossy,
and what I see is a warm grayscale.  On the Premium Luster there is what I'd
call a golden-colored bronzing.  With Ilford smooth the bronzing is much
better controlled, but there is still some.

So, it is possible this is the same thing you're noticing.

>I would have thought that as there
>is but the one ink, the only difference would be in the
>amount laid down.

That could be a major factor.

I see tone changes in most RC prints with either the Epson or Ultra Tone
inks used.  With a lot of the RC paper's I've tried, these tone changes
include the visual effects of "bronzing" and "dusting."  Other tone changes
are not reflective and seem to relate to how the ink is absorbed.  I have
not felt that metamerism is a serious factor with the black and gray inks
I've been using.  But the other color-related defects always seem to
eventually surface with almost all RC papers, and in many of my prints the
defects are fatal.

The UT inkset with cheap Epson Glossy Photo Paper may be the most free of
these defects, but it also has a more modest dmax (about 1.8).

Matte under acrylic (display or snapshot holder) or in a mylar sleeve (for
archival, family albums) is hard to beat for my tastes.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com