Digital BW, The Print

Bill Morse wrote:

>I was going to title this response "A new paradigm for digital printing,"
>but I figured no one would read it. [G]

>... I think you are really onto something here- we can make prints that no
>silver process can approximate!

[To see the sample prints, see image VM-Sepia2.jpg in the Message Related
Files section of the forum.  The Files section is at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/ ]

The tone/color of quads is really wide open. Anyone can mix their own unique
ink tones easily.

Although one can clone the Piezo inks to make, for example, the neutral-tone
Piezo clone like I published here on 10/30, the variable-tone approach is
really easier and more flexible.  All one has to do is match the g/s density
of the existing toner for the VM curves to work as written.  For those with
an 1160, all you have to do is mix one ink.  All the rest of the system is
unchanged.  With the software (curves) to control the amount of the toner,
you don't really have to worry much about how strong the toner will be.

(Those with 6-ink printers who want to get into this will feel pangs of
"1160 envy.")

To match the toner density, I use what I call my "Color Test" curve that
simply pours out 100% of each ink independently at different parts of the
21-step test file when it is printer with the curve.  Do that with the MIS
VM inkset first to get a standard, then simply match the toner density with
the brew you make.  After I've published a few formulas we'll get a sense of
what works to come close to that density (which is just a hair darker than
the MIS VM lightest gray ink).

I've also found that plain copy paper dipped into the ink and then blotted
dry with a paper towel can get me fairly close to the right density.  I use
the MIS VM lightest gray ink as the target density.  When the new toner brew
looks just a hair darker than the MIS VM light gray paper dip, I know I'm in
the ballpark.  (The Sepia2 mix is just a  hair too light at 39% v. the 42%
target.)

With paper and ink being separate products, we are closer to being painters
than most of us would have ever guessed.  My darkroom is now my ink mixing
room.

Hey, who will be the first with the green toner?  (Or did Piezo already try
that -- Sorry, I just couldn't resist.)

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com


on 11/3/01 1:53 AM, Paul Roark wrote:

>>This evening's entertainment was making a warm/sepia version of the
>>variable-tone inkset.  It uses the standard MIS VM inks and curves, except
>>that it uses a sepia toner instead of the bluish toner.

>>...