Digital BW, The Print

Hello Mike,

>I see what you're saying, but I can't help thinking that the septone 
>approach is the most appropriate one when you want a range of cool
>to warm tones and minimal dot throughout the scale. More than 
>anything  I'd like to know what the options are before I make what
>will be a fairly big investment in time and effort to whatever 
>system I end up with. But returning to the question, is the 
>Sundance system the only game in town??

Lat summer I saw several Septone prints while doing a print review. 
My impression was that they had the best dot-free look of them all,
and also one of the top resolution ratings.  They had that opaque look
that all quad/hex system seem to have, but not as bad as some.  Aside
from that they had a good black and looked great.  I came real close
to buying the system but held back to wait-and-see because of some
early problem reports.  It seems now that the 2200 carts don't work
and you must use the CIS system.

The waiting period allowed me to see the fading, beginning at 4
months.  It's now 9 mos and I just looked again - the fading is worse,
so it has continued.  Granted, this is a windowsill torture test and
perhaps a properly framed print under UV glass will not fade, but
right beside it is an Eboni BO print at well over 6 mos with no signs
of fading.  It is important to note that the 100% black patch has not
faded, so the black is good, but obviously they are using something
for the toning that doesn't hold up.  Dye?  Color pigment?  Anybody
know?

I just scanned the print, here's a link

     http://www.cjcom.net/files/septoneTest.jpg

A strip of 4-ply matt board has been taped over it, right down the
middle.  The faded areas on either side have shifted to magenta. 
Looks much like the older inks that color shifted. 

Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm