Digital BW, The Print

Any thoughts on MIS putting this in production?  I am running MIS PK
(ESC7600-4-PK) with QTR and (a) FSN C, FSN M and FSN Y for neutral prints
and (b) UT 2 M and UT 2 LM for warm prints, glop in the LK slot and all
prints on EPSG.  I can't get next day dMax to exceed 1.90 for either curve.
Here are the readings from my neutral curve after a short blast with the
hair dryer:

 Step    L   a   b 
  05  90.8   -0.3     -2.9
  10  86.3   -0.1     -2.3
  15  82.0    0.1     ­1.5
  20  77.6    0.3     ­1.0
  25  73.4    0.5     ­0.8
  30  69.5    0.7     ­0.7
  35  65.3    1.0     ­0.9
  40  61.3    1.2     ­1.1
  45  55.8    1.4     ­1.4
  50  52.8    1.8     ­1.6
  55  48.4    2.1     ­1.7
  60  44.1    2.3     ­1.9
  65  39.9    2.5     ­2.2
  70  35.5    2.6     ­2.4
  75  31.4    2.7     ­2.6
  80  27.1    2.8     ­2.7
  85  23.2    2.8     ­2.7
  90  18.0    2.4     ­1.9
  95  14.5    2.3     ­1.3
  100 09.8   0.3     ­0.6
 
  With BO I get a 100 step reading of L=10.1, a=0.2, b=-0.5.

The curves limit inks to 90% and overlap the PK with the "dark grey" by 10%.
I am going to cross check with an Epson PK cartridge.

Steve



> From: Paul Roark <paul.roark@...>
> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 10:46:04 -0800
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: RE: [Digital BW] Neutral Photo Black
> 
> 
> The initial dmax of Ilford with the PKN3 jumped to over 2.5.  The others
> jumped also.  The shadows are now cool.  The midtones are cool, with C
> typically .03 density units above Y.  This makes a great BO ink.
> 
> PKN3 is still mostly carbon, just with blue (and none of that weakling
> magenta) added.  
> 
> We can now match the cool shadows of the selenium-toned silver prints.  Add
> Glop to take care of the bronzing, and I see a new inkset.  MIS is going to
> hate me.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
> 
> ___________________
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Roark [mailto:paul.roark@...]
> Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 9:18 AM
> To: DigitalB&WPrint
> Subject: [Digital BW] Neutral Photo Black
> 
> 
> These are some of the "next day" readings of the current (version 2) of the
> neutral "PKN2."  All of these were printed with a 1280. In addition to the
> dmax, I note the BO 50% CMY and Lab (a, b) readings (after application of a
> curve to linearize the output).  The BO prints tend to be slightly cool in
> the highlights, neutral at 50%, and reach their warmest point at about 75%
> to 85%.  The Lab a (red-green axis) stays relatively the same.  The Lab b
> (yellow-blue) is what varies.  So, I note the "warmest" (highest) Lab b
> value in the shadows, since getting rid of the warm crossovers in the
> shadows is one of my goals.
> 
>  
> 
> Kirkland MIS PK = 2.14, PKN2 = 2.29, BO 50% CMY all = .61, Lab (a, b) =
> (.17, -.49), warmest b = .99;
> 
>  
> 
> Premium Semigloss MIS PK = 2.06, PKN2 = 2.18, BO 50% CMY all = .61, (-.02,
> .54), warmest b = 1.08;
> 
>  
> 
> Ilford Smooth Pearl (I have no good MIS PK comparison),
> 
>                    PKN2 100% = 2.31, 50%  = .60 all, Lab (a, b) = (.39,
> -.31), warmest b = 1.24;
> 
>  
> 
> PSM MIS PK = 1.96, PKN2 = 2.03, BO 50% CMY = .60, .59, .59, (.15, -.61),
> warmest b = -.2
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> There will be another PKNx today that will be cooler.  I'm curious to see if
> the dmax can go higher, how cool the inkset needs to be to get totally rid
> of the warmth in the deep shadows, and whether a cooler version makes for
> better BO prints on popular glossy papers.  I tend to think glossy prints
> look better if they are a bit on the cool side.  Also, if the PKN were
> cooler, people could always buy bulk and mix it with MIS PK to achieve the
> degree of coolness or warmth they prefer.