Digital BW, The Print

Stuart,

>Has anybody done a comparison of these two approaches?


On 4/14 I posted a summary of my latest fade test, which included the HP
dyes as well as UltraTone pigments on various papers.  I did not run the
tests to a 30% fade end point, but the rates of initial fade tell me the
relevant rates of fade.  Presumably those that show no measurable fade had
some and will fade, but at a much lower rate.

Here are the most relevant sections of that post:

My initial conclusions are that the dyes on the latest papers are not bad,
but they are not in the same league with the best pigment-paper
combinations.  The new Kodak paper does not appear to be a “breakthrough.”

...

HP dye on HP paper:

                       Cyan     Mag.     Yellow   Visual density

   50% patch start:    .80      .79        .76        .79
            600 Hr:    .78      .76-       .72        .77

  100% patch start:   2.06+    2.05+      2.03       2.05-
            600 Hr:   1.97     1.95       1.92       1.95

MIS Ultra Tone inks on various papers:


Epson UltraSmooth:

                       Cyan     Mag.     Yellow   Visual density

   50% patch start:    .59      .59        .60        .59
            600 Hr:    .59      .59        .60        .59

  100% patch start:   1.61     1.62       1.64       1.61+
            600 Hr:   1.60     1.61       1.63       1.61


Epson Premium Semigloss with PremierArt spray:

                       Cyan     Mag.     Yellow   Visual density

   50% patch start:    .58      .57        .58        .58
            600 Hr:    .58      .57        .58        .58

  100% patch start:   2.07-    2.09       2.09-      2.08
            600 Hr:   2.05     2.07       2.06       2.06


Epson Enhanced Matte with UT neutral curve:

                      Cyan     Mag.     Yellow   Visual density

   50% patch start:   .61      .62        .62        .61
            600 Hr:   .61      .61        .63        .61

  100% patch start:  1.65     1.66       1.68       1.66
            600 Hr:  1.66     1.67       1.69       1.66

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com