Digital BW, The Print

Hi Todd,

>... unclear how warm the standard UT mix goes. Is it more like 
>the original VM mix or the VM-Sepia?

The raw carbon ink of the UT ink mix is much like the old quads once they
warmed up.  To put some (approximate X-Rite Y minus C readings -- from
memory) numbers to the warmth, the VM warm was about 0.06.  The UT warm is
about 0.10 - 0.11.  The light sepia I prefer is 0.20.  The full sepia that
Getty used for the Gustave Le Gray reproduction is 0.25.  The VM-S and UT-2
can print this full sepia tone.

So, the UT warm is notably warmer than the VM warm prior to it warming
totally from sun, but it is only about half way to sepia.

>If I want a sepia option should I order a sepia ink in lieu of the "stock"
>toner?

The UT version that I've made that will do sepia is the UT-2 mix.  It's a
dual toner inkset that has a sepia toner.  It's targeted at the 1280 only
right now.  It won't run on quads at all, and the older hextones will
probably show dots with it.

>Using Paul's curves with VM-S, a "nuetral" print was obtained 
>using the "warm" print (no toner). Is that still true with the 
>UT set or is it more like the original VM that uses 
>a middle curve for neutrality?

The UT inkset is an upgrade of the VM inkset.  It works just like the MIS VM
inkset, not like the VM-S inkset.

> If I went with a sepia version how would I get a neutral print?

I have made no separate, specific UT-S inkset.  The UT-2 does the sepia.

I made a toner for the Bowhaus system that takes the warm, carbon gray to
sepia, but without more it will not print a neutral tone.

There will be a UT-FSN soon.  That ink plus a sepia toner could make a UT-S
inkset.  However, the light gray ink would have to be custom mixed, and one
would have to make new curves for it.  I don't think I'll get around to
making such an inkset.

>I'm also confused about the UT-2 option. Am I correct in understanding 
>that this inkset gives a broader range than the UT (or UT sepia) because 
>it has two toners?

Yes.  UT-2 is a 2-toner inkset for modern hextone or better printers only.

>I'm wondering if this inkset might not be an interesting option to 
>use with Roy's QTR. 

Roy will have to answer this one.

>Basically what I'd really like is a set that includes strongish 
>selenium, nuetral, and sepia (no need for bluish prints). ...

The neutral in UT and UT-2 is what I call a neutral/"selenium".  It has the
magenta channel about 0.01 higher than the C&Y channels in the midtones.
With some papers the shadow magenta/"selenium" tone gets stronger.  But, I
would not call it a "strong" selenium tone that is in these mixes.

The UT-2 does neutral though sepia on the 1280.  (You're old 1160 is getting
a bit outdated.  Mine is in a back room and seldom used any more.)

>Oh yeah, this for an 1160 and a 9000

Sorry Todd, the older machines really can't handle the UT-2.  It requires
small/variable dot technology and hextones.  I probably will not load the
UT-2 onto my 7500.  

I'm targeting the 4000 as the do-it-all 16x20 printer.  My 7500 will
probably stay with the UT inks for larger matte prints only.  Those big 8 or
10 (?) picoliter dots and the hassle of changing back and forth between
photo and matte blacks is limiting the old printers.  (I'll bet there are
going to be a lot of unhappy 7600/9600 owners when Epson releases the
7xxx/9xxx series with the extra black cart and new head.)

Good luck in your search.  Sorry I don't have a UT-S for you.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com