Digital BW, The Print

Paul Roark wrote:

>
>
>The Iris used rather fast-fading dyes.  That is why among some high end
>galleries I spoke with, the "Giclee," which is associated with the Iris, got
>a bad reputation.  That is one of the many reasons I avoid the use of that
>term.
>  
>

You are right on that. Pity though that Epson has a new concept for 
quality guarantee in inkjet printing that gets the name UltraGiclee. We 
will live with that name for another decade.

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>>HP is certainly doing something interesting with pigments in their 
>>thermal printers to achieve such ratings.
>>    
>>
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>It may be that the main factor is currently the swellable paper.  What that
>does is pull the dye down into a chamber, where dries in more of a
>particulate form and is also protected by the paper emulsion.   It's, in
>effect, an encapsulated quasi-pigment particle (my terminology).
>
>Ultimately, the chemistry of mordants -- the substances that absorb or react
>with the dyes to make these quasi-pigments -- also holds great promise.
>Consider a 2-component, epoxy-like rock embedded in an emulsion that has
>also become very hard.  I think the potential is immense.  (I'm so glad to
>see Carly get fired.  Go to it HP inkjet tech guys!) 
>
>I think we'll benefit greatly by these big guys competing fiercely.  Canon
>is also not to be counted out.  These are some impressive players, and we
>benefit.
>
>One thing I like about the pigment approach, however, is the ability to use
>the traditional cellulose papers.  I still think carbon on cotton is the
>combination to beat.  That may not always be the case.
>  
>
Not related to the recent HP dye-coating technology but:
The first pigment inks were used in Encads etc GO type ink, HP has used 
black pigment in many inkjets and full CcMmYK pigment sets in the wide 
formats. So the use of pigment inks isn't limited to piezo heads. They 
all didn't have the gamut we like and which is available in the Epson UC 
and third party clones.  Piezo heads seem to be more suited for 
"thicker" inks in general, that includes sublimation inks for textiles, 
UV curing resin inks, heavier pigmented inks, etc

Competition between the big boys is a good thing. If compared to what 
almost a 100 years of analogue color photography has delivered in terms 
of fade resistance then we shouldn't complain too much. At least the 
biggest boy pays attention to that aspect, something the biggest boy in 
analogue photography used to neglect. Where HP will be in the printing 
industry in five years is hard to say. The competition isn't from Japan 
only, Dell wants a share and you may expect Chinese companies to join 
the Korean ones soon. The sign industry is already surprised by the 
number of Chinese Wide Format (up to 5 meter) printers that were brought 
to the market last year. Based on Xaar or Spectra piezo heads (UK) but 
nevertheless.

Ernst