Digital BW, The Print

I suspect the dither difference is because of the quad vrs UC
approach. A direct comparison of IPs quad approach and SPs would be
interesting. Or SPs UC approach vrs IPs, I'll have more on that at
some point.
I have seen some tests of the hextone option with v11 and specially
mixed inks for the full 6 partitions with a 9000 (could have been a
7000, but not a x600). I've never seen such smooth digital B&W prints.
No dots, period. No artifacts of any kind even under a loup. But of
course much tinkering to get it right.
I'm commited, for now, to variable hues, so the hex option is not for
me at present.
I live in Seattle, so not much humidity problem. Worst is now in the
winter when the heat is on all the time.
Tyler

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Joel Pickford
<joelpickford@y...> wrote:
> 
> --- Tyler Boley <tyler@t...> wrote:
> 
> > Not sure what experiences you have had that suggest
> > IPs dither better
> > than SPs either. I'd be interested in more info.
> 
> Tyler, thanks for your very helpful ideas.  Regarding
> dither, here is what I have seen in comparing IP and
> SP (I have both):  IP's dither is more stochastic. 
> When you look at the prints with a loop, the ink dots
> look like little amoebas swimming around; there are no
> linear patterns.  SP's dither looks very rectilinear
> under the loop.  The guys at Ergosoft (very nice and
> helpful guys, by the way) mentioned something about a
> new dither for version 11 that for some reason has
> been cancelled by headquarters in Europe.  So in
> version 11 there is a menu choice to select version 11
> dither, but it isn't really available and you have to
> use version 10 dither.  A linear dither such as SP
> v.10 with only four colors in use is going to reveal
> the slightest micro-clogging very quickly.  I have
> lots of SP-Cone proof prints sitting around that look
> great at first glance, but on close inspection reveal
> very feint banding in certain tonal passages (usually
> lower-middle tones).  With IP and UC inks I have never
> ever had a banded print, even when using IP's "gray
> pigment" profiles, which are nothing but duotones with
> a little color thrown for smoothness and cooling.
> 
> I have heard that SP v.11 allows 6 color hextone B&W
> printing to help overcome the banding problem.  If
> anyone has specific knowledge about this, please post.
>  My understanding is that it is not true hextone, but
> merely makes redundant use of two positions repeating
> two of the colors.
> 
> > I would suggest a higher humidity then Larry
> > suggested as well, and I
> > usually clean and soak the capping station a few
> > times a week. Also, I
> > found wiping the bottom of the head over windexed
> > paper towel was
> > needed more often than I anticipated.
>  
> I have tried some of these techniques at times, but
> your point (and Hogarth's) about maintaining overall
> moisture is well taken.  I am curious to know what
> part of the country you (and also Hogarth) live in.  I
> am guessing you live in the East, Midwest or South,
> where humidity is higher.  I am in Central California,
> which is fairly dry, though not as dry as Arizona or
> New Mexico.