Digital BW, The Print

> HP Premium Plus Photo Glossy, Satin (formerly Matte) and High Gloss.
> 
> Those will give the longevity that we all desire, especially when 
> nput behind glass.
> 

This caught my eye, and I couldn't resist re-posting part of the fade test I
did in March.

After 600 hours in my tester, the 50% patch of the Epson Premium Semigloss
printed with neutral MIS UT inks then sprayed with PremierArt Print Shield
and HP paper printed with their B&W inkset had the following starting and
ending spectrophotometer readings:

Prem. SG start: C = .58, M = .57, Y = .58, Visual Density = .58

After 600 Hr:   C = .58, M = .57, Y = .58, Visual Density = .58


HP start:     C = .80, M = .79, Y = .76, Visual Density = .79

After 600 Hr: C = .78, M = .76, Y = .72, Visual Density = .77

So, while the HP B&W dyes may be very good for dyes, and maybe good enough
for most uses, I don't think they are equal to the good B&W pigments.  How
all this translates into actual fading in display I don't know.  However, if
one wants the best B&W digital print resistance to fading, I think the
predominantly carbon pigment systems are still the way to go.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com