Digital BW, The Print

Don,

>Do you have any examples online of the colors possible
>with this inkset?

Some sample scans of the new Ultra Tone inkset I'm now working on are now
posted in the Files section of this forum
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/>

in folder   > Ink Sets > MIS > MIS Ultra Tone Inks 2.

I have PiezoTone and R9-Septone/Sundance test strips in the scan also for
comparison.

The version of the inkset is #7, which I refer to as UT2-Dual 7.  This
variable-tone inkset has both cool and sepia toners, is just for the
1280/90, and can be printed from a grayscale file in any application.  The
Epson driver can control the inkset -- via sliders -- from neutral/selenium
to carbon warm.  With Photoshop curves, the inkset can go from full sepia to
very cold.

So, while most of the scanned UT2-Dual 7 images were printed from grayscale
files with just the Epson driver controls, the full sepia does require
conversion to RGB and the application of a Photoshop curve.

I'm continuing to explore different mixes of this inkset, so people should
not expect MIS to start mixing it yet.  However, I don't expect the visual
results of the final to be much different than version 7 that is pictured
here.

Among the things I'm now pursuing is finding the best compromise between EAM
and cotton papers (PhotoRag and UltraSmooth).  I'm also reducing the sepia
toner strength to hold the total color pigments to a minimum, especially the
yellow. (In version 8 it's down to only 6% of the sepia toner, and there is
no yellow pigment anywhere else in the inkset.  So, when the
neutral/selenium tone is printed, with the yellow slider as far to the "off"
position as possible, the amount of yellow pigment is very small.  With
curves, of course, one can control the inkset enough to virtually eliminate
all color and print with just the pure carbon cyan-position inks or that
plus the minimum cool toner needed for a neutral or cold print.)

So, it's not quite ready for distribution yet, but I think I'm close to
something that will have wide appeal.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com