Digital BW, The Print

Hello All,

Last June I began experimenting with UT7 inks in a 2200.  Using the
slider controls I printed three of Paul's enhanced step wedges on
Photo Rag paper as follows:

#1 - with all controls at 0 (which I think is just the carbon inks K
and Lt-K) giving a moderate warm color
#2 - with cool toner settings for a neutral color
#3 - with warm toner settings for a sepia color

I taped a strip of matt board down the length of each ramp and
put them on my windowsill along with other things being tested (on
June 19th).   I've been real busy over the past months and have only
given them quick looks now and then.

But tonight, after 7 months, I took a careful look and was surprised
to find some fading, as follows:

#1 - No toners   - No sign of fading
#2 - Cool toners - Slight fading, visible from 20% - 70%
#3 - Warm toners - Extreme fading, visible from 5% - 100%

Some questions come to mind:

a) Paul (I hope you are reading this), you said recently something
about the magenta in these ink sets being upgraded.  Assuming these
inks purchased last June had the older magenta, do you think the newer
version will eliminate this fading?   What about the cool toner ink in
print #2?

b) I recently (November 30th) purchased a UT7 set in 4 oz. bottles
with the new ezfill carts.  Will that have the newer magenta, and
would you recommend I make a new set of prints for a new test?

c) What does this test represent?  The prints are on a south
windowsill which is covered by an awning.  They get a small amount of
early morning and late afternoon direct sunlight as it peeks under the
ends of the awning, and a full day of bright reflected daylight.  Yes,
it's a torture test, but the fact remains that they did fade and right
beside them is an Eboni BO print that's been there 14 months and an
Epson UC (grayscale mode) print for 16 months, both with no signs of
fading.  So the toner inks do fade in response to light.  Whether this
amount of light can be translated to 40 years in room light behind
glass, or something like that, I don't know.  Everyone will have to
draw their own conclusions.

Regards,
Clayton


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