Digital BW, The Print

Andre,

 
> I'm been using MIS carbon pigments inks for a few years now and all
> the while thinking that they have those qualities which contribute to
> print permanence. But what proof do I have ?
> 
> Which pigment is used in the Eboni black ink ? Is it carbon black ?

I'm told it's carbon.


> 
> I've been searching the Wilhelm site for info on the MIS inksets but
> did not find any. 


Wilhelm is too expensive for small companies unless they know someone.  MIS
had its older pigments tested by RIT.  Those are on its web site.

I have been doing comparative testing.  I use fluorescent light (as does
Wilhelm) in a "bare bulb" setting.  I do not test out to 30% fade, and I do
not attempt to assign a "years of display life."  I found in early testing
that after an initial fast fade (which turned out to be the dyes burning
off), the pigments seemed to settle into a relatively linear pattern.  So, I
just look at the fade rate and my decisions based on that plus what I see on
Wilhelm and other resources on the web.

The MIS carbon pigments have done the best in my testing.  The UC
UltraChromes, when sprayed with Premier Art print Shield are almost as good
and better in terms of delta E.  Because of that, I've published UC-based
equivalent inkset formulas.

The watercolor field has lots of information on longevity.  There are
industry standards and apparently good third party tests.

The longest life I've ever seen anyone assign to an ink was by Livick at
http://www.livick.com/method/inkjet/pg2d2.htm, about 1/3 down the page.
With respect to a coated MIS UT print from a 1280 he states,  "FIXATIVES AND
JUST ONE CLEARSHIELD BRUSHED ON COATING -- OUR NEUTRAL GRAY BAND SHOWS 681
YEARS LONGEVITY WITH A 30% FADE -- (AND 227 YEARS LONGEVITY WITH JUST A 10%
FADE OCCURRING)"

> If it's a question of money, I'd be more than happy to contribute to a
> fund that would allow MIS UT inksets to be tested by WIR. All MIS has
> to do is let me check a box for a contribution and add an amount each
> time I make a purchase.

 
> And I'm sure MIS could get with a paper mfg to share to cost of
> testing their inksets with a specific brand of paper.

I don't know, but I'll pass the thought to MIS.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com